The Detroit Lions are bringing back a familiar face to add depth to their tight end room.
The team announced this week that they signed tight end Anthony Firkser to the practice squad, bringing back a player who spent time in Detroit before bouncing around the league last season. He has the potential to add versatility to the offense, having played two positions during his previous stint with the Lions.
Anthony Firkser Has Excelled on the Big Stage
Firkser spent part of the 2023 season with the Lions, playing mostly in a special teams role but occasionally seeing snaps on offense. He didn’t record a catch during the regular season but did have a contribution in the playoffs, making one catch for eight yards in the NFC Championship gae loss to the San Francisco 49ers that season.
As Christian Booher of SI.com noted, Firkser could bring some versatility to Detroit’s practice squad.
“The veteran has experience playing both as a tight end and as a traditional fullback, which could be advantageous for the Lions if they ever need to utilize him as a game day elevation,” Booher wrote.
“The Lions were clearly looking for tight end depth, as the team worked out both Firkser and rookie Thomas Gordon prior to signing Firkser. Gordon was an undrafted free agent in the 2025 Draft and spent training camp with the Chicago Bears.”
Firkser most recently spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs, joining their practice squad last season.
The Lions have valued versatility from their tight ends, especially ones who can line up in the backfield. The team regularly utilizes fullbacks to clear paths for running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
Firkser has plenty of NFL experience since coming into the league as an undrafted free agent out of Harvard in 2017. He has 115 career receptions for 1,207 yards and five touchdowns, though hasn’t logged a catch since the 2022 season.
Lions Break Out in Win Over Commanders
The Lions struggled on offense in a Week 9 loss to the rival Minnesota Vikings, stalling out on offense at times. The team bounced back in a big way on Sunday, dismantling the short-handed Washington Commanders 44-22 while logging 546 total yards of offense and 30 first downs.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell took over play-calling duties from offensive coordinator John Morton for the game, telling reporters afterward that he wanted to add a spark.
âI just wanted to change it up a little bit,â Campbell said, via The Athletic. âLetâs just see if maybe a different play caller can maybe get us a little rhythm. Thatâs all.â
While Campbell downplayed the significance of the change, The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy believes it was telling for Morton’s status in Detroit.
“This isnât a move Campbell wouldâve made unless he thought it was necessary,” Pouncy wrote. “He isnât known as a meddler. During practice, you can usually find him observing â not hovering over â his coaches and players. He wants them to coach with confidence, the same way he wants his players to play with it. And itâs not like things had reached dire circumstances. The Lions entered Week 10 ranked second in points per game at 29.9.”
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