The Detroit Lions made several key roster moves ahead of their matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, signaling both concern and preparation as injuries continue to test the depth of the roster late in the season.
The most significant move was the decision to place safety Kerby Joseph on Injured Reserve, officially ruling him out for at least the next four games. Joseph has been a vital piece of Detroit’s secondary, and his absence leaves a noticeable gap on the back end of the defense as the Lions prepare to face a physical Steelers offense. Head coach Dan Campbell acknowledged earlier in the week that Joseph had been working through soreness, but the team ultimately opted for caution.
To help stabilize the roster, the Lions activated guard Christian Mahogany to the 53-man roster, providing much-needed reinforcement along the offensive line. Mahogany’s return gives Detroit additional flexibility in a unit that has been rotating heavily in practice due to injuries.
The Lions also elevated offensive lineman Kingsley Eguakun from the practice squad, a move that appears closely tied to the status of starting center Graham Glasgow. Glasgow has been dealing with a knee injury and missed two practices this week, earning a questionable designation for Sunday. Campbell said the coaching staff has explored every possible option at center, including Eguakun, Trystan Colon, and Michael Niese, while also rotating guards to prepare for multiple scenarios.
“We’ve kind of just hit all around,” Campbell said. “It’s been a little bit of a revolving door trying to get a number of guys ready because there’s a lot of flex going into this game right now.”
In addition to the offensive line shuffle, the Lions elevated tight end Giovanni Ricci from the practice squad for the second straight week. Detroit has been short-handed at tight end due to injuries to Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright, forcing the team to rely on depth players to fill snaps and contribute in blocking packages.
Altogether, Detroit added three players to the active roster for the Steelers game—Mahogany, Eguakun, and Ricci—while placing Joseph on IR. The moves reflect a team adjusting on the fly as it navigates injuries while still pushing toward its postseason goals.
With roster flexibility becoming increasingly important, Sunday’s matchup against Pittsburgh will test not only the Lions’ depth but also their ability to adapt under pressure as the regular season winds down.
