The Detroit Lions' defensive backfield concerns went from bad to worse over the last week. After the Bills completely carved up the Lions' defense, Detroit lost starting safety Avonte Maddox for the season. Then, head coach Dan Campbell said that Kerby Joseph is nowhere near returning to action. This created a sense of desperation for the Lions.
While some Lions fans were hoping for a splashy move to address the secondary, the Lions signed Bishop Fitzgerald from the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad on Tuesday.
Why did the Lions sign Bishop Fitzgerald to address defensive concerns?
Understandably, Fitzgerald wasn't someone on the radar of Lions fans. The 23-year-old safety went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft and signed with the Titans. But he wasn't able to crack the 53-man roster and signed with the Steelers.
After Maddox landed on the injured reserve list, the Lions took the opportunity to sign Fitzgerald to their active roster. On Wednesday, Campbell discussed the thought process that went into the signing.
Campbell said, "When he was coming out, he was somebody that really caught our eye. We were kind of back and forth on him in that whole draft process." He then added, "He's a football player, you know. He's got some versatility to him. We felt like he's got some range. He can play top down. He's intriguing to us. Those guys we always keep tabs on."
The head coach also mentioned that the team had a "draftable grade" for Fitzgerald. So when he became available, they decided to take a look at him.
Detroit's offseason approach can be criticized, but their success under GM Brad Holmes in drafting and developing can't be denied. Holmes does have an eye for identifying diamonds in the rough, and Lions fans have to hope that Fitzgerald is another one of Detroit's finds.
In his three preseason games with the Titans, Fitzgerald was solid, per Pro Football Focus. He didn't allow a catch in coverage and received a 65.6 defensive grade in 71 snaps.
This is an excellent opportunity for Fitzgerald, who will get a chance to earn his first NFL defensive snaps in Week 3.
Chuck Clark and Thomas Harper are expected to start at safety. Fitzgerald and Christian Izien will be the primary backups heading into the Jets clash.
All eyes will be on the Lions' defensive backfield on Sunday. Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard is already on thin ice, and another poor showing could augur major changes for the Lions. There is a desperate need for improvement, and whether Fitzgerald can be a solution remains to be seen.
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