The Detroit Lions are entering the final stretch of the regular season and don't have much wiggle room as they fight for a playoff spot. The injuries have been piling up for the Lions, and the latest position group to feel that is the safety room.
Last week, they lost Brian Branch for the season to a torn Achilles, and the injuries haven't slowed down ahead of their matchup vs. the Los Angeles Rams. The Lions revealed on Saturday that safety Thomas Harper won't play due to a concussion, leaving the safety room that much thinner leading into the contest.
Thomas Harper’s Injury Is Another Hurdle for Lions' Secondary
The Lions have lost both starting safeties, as Kerby Joseph's season may be over after he suffered a setback this week. With three safeties down, Detroit will have to roll with Erick Hallett, Daniel Thomas, Avonte Maddox, and Jalen Mills to fill in the gaps.
Maddox stepped in and played well for the Lions against the Cowboys and will likely be a starting safety. Meanwhile, the other spot could be a combination of Hallett, Harper, or Mills, but the advantage likely goes to Hallett.
He's been with the team since the summer, spending time on the practice squad and active roster. Hallett understands the scheme and even started in one game for Detroit back in Week 7 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In that contest, he recorded eight total tackles, yet allowed four catches (five targets) for 66 receiving yards.
Despite leaving some things to be desired in coverage, Hallett was all over the formation, playing in the box, slot, and free safety. Even though he has familiarity with the team, if his play isn't up to par, the Lions may ask Mills to step in.
He was claimed off waivers by Detroit this week after being released by the Houston Texans. While additions at this point of the season don't typically excite fans, Mills could be someone who makes an impact in the last few weeks of the season.
He's been in the NFL for 10 years, starting games for the Eagles, Patriots, Jets, and Texans along the way. Mills plays physically and owns an abundance of experience that could be useful. But if they don't feel comfortable putting him out there, it means Thomas probably gets the edge.
He's been mostly a special teams player for the Lions in 2025, but at this point, beggars can't be choosers. The injury bug has really hit Detroit hard, and Harper is just the latest example.