The Detroit Lions will be shorthanded in the secondary for their Week 15 road game against the Los Angeles Rams, as they are now set to be without all three of their primary safeties.
The team announced Saturday, prior to departing for the West Coast, that safety Thomas Harper has been downgraded to out due to a concussion. Offensive lineman Christian Mahogany was also ruled out as he continues to recover from a fibula injury.
Detroit had been optimistic that Harper could be available to start next to Anthony Maddox, especially with Brian Branch expected to be placed on injured reserve and Kerby Joseph already sidelined. Harper participated in practice throughout the week, which is a step forward in the concussion recovery process, but final medical clearance is required before game action. Based on the downgrade, Harper did not pass the league’s independent concussion evaluation.
With Branch, Joseph, and Harper all unavailable, the Lions face uncertainty at the safety position. Veteran Daniel Thomas appears to be the most immediate option to step into the lineup, though he has primarily contributed on special teams and may not be the ideal long-term solution. Detroit also added Jalen Mills via waivers earlier in the week, but given his limited time with the team, it seems unlikely he will be ready to start on Sunday.
Another potential option is Erick Hallett, currently on the practice squad. Hallett has familiarity with the system and previously started for the Lions earlier this season in Week 7 against Tampa Bay. Head coach Dan Campbell specifically mentioned Hallett as one of the players receiving reps in practice, making him a strong candidate for elevation to the active roster.
“We’re in a good spot,” Campbell said Friday. “Hallett’s getting reps, DT’s getting reps, Maddox has been getting reps. We’ve got plenty of guys working through it, so we’ll be fine.”
Mahogany’s situation remains on track, though he is not yet ready to return. He began his injury evaluation window this week, and while there was initial hope he could be activated in time for the Rams game, the Lions opted to keep him on injured reserve. With two weeks left in his evaluation period, Mahogany still has time to continue his recovery and could be a realistic option to return in Week 16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Along the offensive line, Detroit is expected to give Kayode Awosika the first opportunity to start at left guard. If Awosika’s foot injury prevents him from playing, veteran Trystan Colon — who started there last week — would likely step back into the role. The coaching staff may also work rookie Miles Frazier into the rotation to provide him with additional in-game experience, regardless of who earns the start.
