By Colton Pouncy, Jeff Howe and Cale Clinton
The Detroit Lions are signing All-Pro safety Jamal Adams to their practice squad, according to a league source. The signing comes with an understanding that he will be elevated to Detroit’s active roster.
Adams has struggled to returned to his All-Pro level he achieved in 2019 with the New Y0rk Jets. The Seattle Seahawks acquired Adams in exchange for multiple first-round picks, but the safety was never able to appear in more than 12 games in a season for Seattle. Adams battled multiple injuries throughout his Seahawks tenure, most notably missing the entirety of the 2022 season after tearing his quad in the team’s season opener.
After Seattle released him in March, Adams signed a one-year deal with the Tennessee Titans in July. Adams missed the season opener with a hip injury, but appeared in the Titans’ next three games playing just 20 defensive snaps before asking for his release from the team.
The big-name veteran joins a Lions team in serious need of healthy bodies on the defensive side. Detroit currently has 17 players on injured reserve — 13 of which come from the defensive side of the ball. Notable Lions defensive contributors on injured reserve include edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, linebackers Alex Anzalone and Malcolm Rodriguez, safety Ifeatu Melifonwu and rookie cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Despite the injuries, the Lions’ defense has been able to hold its own this season. Detroit ranks third in the league in defensive EPA per play and second in defensive DVOA. The Lions have allowed just 10 passing touchdowns (t-third fewest) and nine rushing touchdowns (t-eighth fewest) on the year, having as many turnovers forced (19, t-sixth most) as touchdowns allowed.
Adams has recently struggled in coverage allowing a 78.6 completion percentage and more touchdowns (two) than pass breakups (one) during the Seahawks’ 2023 season, according to Sports Info Solutions. He can still be a strong run defender, though, with 11 of Adams’ 48 tackles in 2023 being tackles for a loss.
Adams joins a Lions defense thin on run support
The Lions have 13 defenders on injured reserve at the moment. Their defense remains top five, but it’s limping into December. They need all the help they can get, and that evidently includes Adams.
On the surface, this gives the Lions some safety depth behind Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, with Melifonwu on IR. But with so many injuries at linebacker, it’s possible the Lions are looking to use Adams in the box as more of a run defender. In 2023 with the Seahawks, Adams played 208 snaps in the box, compared to just 85 at free safety, per Pro Football Focus. Expect Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to get creative with Adams and figure out how to get the most out of him. — Colton Pouncy, Lions beat writer
Required reading
- Lions sign LB Kwon Alexander after Malcolm Rodriguez tears ACL: Sources
- Banged-up Lions edge Bears to earn elusive happy Thanksgiving: ‘We’ll take any win we can’
- Putting the NFC North’s dominance in context: Best division since realignment?
(Photo: Steve Roberts / Imagn Images)
