The Detroit Lions faced offensive difficulties during their Week 2 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Despite accumulating a significant 463 yards of offense, the Lions struggled to capitalize on their opportunities.

They threw two interceptions and turned the ball over twice on downs. Additionally, the team managed to score a touchdown on only one of their seven trips to the red zone

.On September 16, Bleacher Report’s NFL scouting department suggested that the Lions should consider enhancing their defense.

The report recommended signing safety Rudy Ford, who previously played for the Green Bay Packers, as a potential solution to bolster the Lions’ defensive backfield.

Ford, who has experience as both a free and strong safety and is familiar with the NFC North from his time in Green Bay, would be a valuable addition given the Lions’ current injury concerns at the safety position.

Bleacher Report highlighted the Lions’ need for additional safety depth due to injuries to key players.

Ifeatu Melifonwu has been dealing with an ankle injury that has kept him out of action for the first two games of the season.

Kerby Joseph, another key safety, missed a practice session on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury, although he did play in Week 2.

These injuries have left the Lions somewhat thin at the safety position.

Rudy Ford, who is 29 years old, has spent the last two seasons with the Green Bay Packers and has also had previous NFL stints with the Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

In the previous season with the Packers, Ford recorded a total of 71 combined tackles, 6 pass defenses, and 2 interceptions.

His career began when he was drafted in the sixth round by the Cardinals in 2017.

Despite being a late-round pick, he managed to appear in 10 games during his rookie year and made his first career start with the Cardinals in 2018.Ford’s career saw a significant development when he started more than one game for the Jaguars in 2021.

Over the past two seasons, he has seen increased playing time, culminating in a career-high nine starts in 2023.

His consistent growth in defensive snaps over the years reflects his experience and reliability, making him a valuable asset for any team, especially one with high expectations like the Lions.

Ford is also known for his special teams contributions, having played at least 100 special teams snaps in every season of his NFL career until he became a regular defensive starter last year.

Ford was part of the Carolina Panthers’ 2024 preseason but was released on August 27. Given the current state of the Lions’ roster, bringing Ford onto the active roster could provide significant benefits.

His addition would allow the team to move Brian Branch back to his primary role as a nickel cornerback, rather than having him fill in at safety.

Branch has been a key player, leading the team in combined tackles over the first two weeks, but he struggled with his performance at safety in Week 1 according to Pro Football Focus.

Although Branch performed better in Week 2, he did not see as many snaps compared to his rookie season when he primarily played in the slot.

Signing Ford would not only provide immediate support for the safety position but also serve as a precautionary measure in case Joseph’s hamstring injury worsens or if additional injuries occur.

Alternatively, Ford could be added to the practice squad, offering the Lions flexibility and security in their secondary depth.