Lions Use Final Practice-Squad Elevation on Jalen Mills
Reaching the three-elevation limit creates a short-term roster decision over signing him to the 53-man roster ahead of the bye with Brian Branch expected to return in Week 7.
Overview
- The Lions elevated veteran defensive back Jalen Mills on Saturday to the active/inactive list for the Week 5 game versus Arizona, making him eligible for game-day selection but not guaranteeing he will be active or play.
- This is Mills’ third straight weekly elevation, which hits the NFL limit for a veteran and means Detroit must sign him to the 53-man roster to use him again this season.
- Mills, 32, joined Detroit’s practice squad on Sept. 21 and offers positional versatility—he has played corner, nickel and safety—and he logged four defensive snaps and seven special-teams snaps in his most recent appearance.
- Detroit’s secondary is short-handed because Avonte Maddox and Thomas Harper remain on injured reserve, Brian Branch is on the PUP list, and Rock Ya-Sin is out, a shortage that has heightened scrutiny of the Lions’ pass defense and coaching choices.
- With a bye next week and Branch expected to be ready by Week 7, Detroit faces a near-term choice to either keep Mills on the practice squad and use the bye to adjust or sign him to the 53-man roster if they want to rely on him beyond the allowed elevations.