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4h ago

Lions Sign Veteran Safety Daniel Thomas to Bolster Special Teams Depth

The move adds a proven special-teams presence to backstop a thin safety group created by cutdown-week moves.

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Jacksonville Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas (20) celebrates his open field tackle on a kickoff return with teammate linebacker Josh Allen (41) during the third quarter of a regular season NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-7. Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK

Overview

  • Detroit announced the signing of Daniel Thomas one day after Jacksonville released the five-year veteran during initial roster cuts.
  • Thomas arrives primarily as a special-teams contributor, with more than 1,100 snaps in that phase and regular work as a gunner, while seeing limited defensive action in recent seasons.
  • The Lions entered the week with only Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph as traditional safeties after waiving depth options and losing rookie Dan Jackson to a season-ending leg injury.
  • Detroit had open roster spots to fill after trading wide receiver Tim Patrick to the Jaguars for a 2026 sixth-round pick, and further transactions are expected.
  • Thomas, a 2020 fifth-round pick out of Auburn who has appeared in 71 regular-season games, was reportedly made expendable in Jacksonville by the rise of rookie defensive back Rayuan Lane.