The Detroit Lions‘ secondary is the most problematic unit on the team’s least successful side of the football, as evidenced by several factors including the Lions’ focus on adding defensive backs in recent days.
Detroit has added two safeties to the organization in the past 72 hours following star defensive back Brian Branch’s season-ending Achilles tear on the December 4 edition of “Thursday Night Football.” The Lions defeated the visiting Dallas Cowboys in that contest, but paid a serious price in the loss of Branch while doing so.
On Wednesday, December 10, Detroit attempted to stem that loss.
“The Lions claimed veteran safety Jalen Mills off waivers from Houston,” Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported via X.
Mills, who has spent the majority of his NFL career as a cornerback, transitioned to safety two years ago upon joining the New York Jets. He played there for one season before landing with the Texans in 2025, appearing in four games with Houston this year and starting one of those outings.
Mills, 31 years old, spent the first five campaigns of his professional career as a cornerback with the Philadelphia Eagles. He started 15 games for the franchise as part of its run to a Super Bowl title during the 2017-18 campaign.
He then joined the New England Patriots for a three-year stint and was a regular starter until 2023, when he started eight of 17 games. Mills also started eight of nine contests for the Jets last year.
Mills has tallied 454 tackles, 59 pass breakups, 10 tackles for loss, eight interceptions and three forced fumbles over the course of his 10-year career (119 games, 92 starts).
Lions Signed Veteran Safety Damontae Kazee Earlier This Week
GettyDetroit Lions safety Damontae Kazee.
On Tuesday, the Lions announced via X that they had signed safety Damontae Kazee to the practice squad.
Kazee is one year older than Mills but has played one fewer season in the league. He has also started in the majority of games he has played during his NFL career, logging 111 appearances and 63 starting nods. Most recently, Kazee played in four contests for the Cleveland Browns in 2025. However, his primary role was as a special teams contributor.
Kazee has also played stints for the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers. He has career totals of 363 tackles, 24 passes defensed, 17 interceptions and seven forced fumbles.
Lions Face Road Test Against Rams, NFC’s Top Team, in Week 15
GettyQuarterback Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams.
Detroit suffered a litany of injuries in 2024, and this season is proving essentially no different. That said, the Lions are still very much in the playoff mix in the NFC.
At 8-5, Detroit is currently third in the NFC North Division but also the No. 8 seed in the conference. A total of seven teams from the NFC will earn spots in the playoffs, which begin in mid-January.
The Lions face their toughest remaining test this coming Sunday, when they travel to Southern California to play the Los Angeles Rams (10-3), currently the No. 1 seed in the conference. Detroit then hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers before finishing the year with back-to-back road games against the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears.
According to NFL.com, the Lions currently have a 52 percent chance to make the postseason. Those odds will jump to 72 percent if Detroit can win in L.A. on Sunday.
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