The Detroit Lions made a handful of roster moves following a big win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14.
Dallas lost safety Brian Branch for the remainder of the year to an Achilles injury on “Thursday Night Football” and addressed that positional deficiency on Monday, December 8.
“Lions announce roster moves: Released WR Andrew Armstrong from the Practice Squad,” the team posted to its official X account. “Signed S Damontae Kazee and DL Pat O’Connor to the Practice Squad.”
Damontae Kazee Experienced NFL Safety, While Pat O’Connor Longtime Special Teams Contributor
GettyNew Detroit Lions safety Damontae Kazee.
Kazee, 32, is a nine-year NFL veteran with 111 appearances and 63 starts on his resumé. He has played in four games for the Cleveland Browns this season, though mostly as a special teams contributor.
Over his time as a pro, Kazee has played stints with the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland before linking up with Detroit Monday. He has tallied 363 tackles, 24 pass breakups, 17 interceptions and seven forced fumbles in his career.
O’Connor is an eight-year veteran who played 12 games with the Lions last season and has appeared in eight contests in Detroit this year, including three starts. He has played 106 defensive snaps for the Lions in 2025 as well as 143 snaps on special teams.
Throughout his career, which also includes a six-year stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, O’Connor has primarily been a special teams player.
Meanwhile, Armstrong is an undrafted rookie whom the Lions added a week ago when the status of wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for the matchup with the Cowboys was unclear. Jeff Risdon of USA Today’s Lions Wire offered a description of Armstrong upon his addition in Detroit.
“He’s a big target at just under 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds,” Risdon wrote December 1. “Armstrong was initially with the Miami Dolphins and caught a pass against the Lions in the preseason game between the two teams.”
Armstrong made 78 catches for 1,140 yards and a touchdown in 11 games played with Arkansas in 2024. However, with the injuries stacking up on the defensive side of the football, the Lions let Armstrong go to make way for players at positions of greater need.
Lions in Midst of Widespread Fight for NFC Playoff Spot
GettyDetroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell.
Detroit is attempting to limp its way through a rash of injuries to a third consecutive playoff appearance after winning the NFC North Division title in each of the past two years.
The Green Bay Packers (9-3-1) currently lead the division, a half-game ahead of the Chicago Bears (9-4). The Lions (8-5) are 1.5 games out of first place.
As for the wildcard race, Detroit is currently on the outside looking in at the seven-team playoff field in the conference. The Lions own the No. 8 seed and have a 52 percent chance of making the postseason with four games to play.
Detroit finishes the year with a road game against the Los Angeles Rams (10-3) next week, followed by a home contest vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Lions’ final two outings of the campaign are both on the road against the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, respectively.
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