The Detroit Lions added depth to their injury-plagued secondary on Wednesday, December 10, when they announced that Jalen Mills has been waived by the Houston Texans.
Mills, 31, appeared in four games and made one start for Texas’ top defense this season.
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He joins a Lions defense that has been changing starters throughout the year and will play the remainder of the season without starting safety Brian Branch and second-year cornerback Terion Arnold. Branch recently underwent surgery for a torn Achilles tendon, and Arnold posted on social media that he will undergo shoulder surgery on Thursday.
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Pro Bowl safety Kelby Joseph has been sidelined for two months with knee soreness but practiced Wednesday and could return Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
Backup safety Thomas Harper returned Wednesday from a brain injury and was limited in practice.
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This is Mills’ fourth team in three seasons after starting his NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Lions (8-5) waived tight end Hayden Rucci to make room for Mills, leaving them with just one tight end – Anthony Firkser – on their 53-man roster. They could activate tight end Shane Zylstra from injured reserve this week to add depth at the position.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him: dbirkett@freepress.com. follow him blue sky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared in the Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions make roster changes to address injury-plagued secondary