The Detroit Lions are working out veteran defensive backs Jordan Fuller, Jalen Mills and Mike Edwards on Monday as the club searches for help in a secondary already dealing with multiple injuries.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the three-player workout group, and multiple outlets have since corroborated the visit. The timing is notable because Detroit is still waiting on injured safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, while Avonte Maddox left the Lions’ Week 2 loss to Buffalo with a foot injury.
Jordan Fuller
Fuller has starting experience at safety and previously played under Lions general manager Brad Holmes’ former organization in Los Angeles. His most recent seasons have included injury interruptions, but his experience in the deep secondary makes him a logical emergency option.
Jalen Mills
Mills is already familiar with Detroit after spending time with the Lions in 2025. His ability to play both cornerback and safety would give the coaching staff positional flexibility if injuries continue to affect multiple spots.
Mike Edwards
Edwards brings extensive NFL experience and has played in multiple defensive systems. He has 30 career starts, according to reporting on the workout, and would represent another veteran option capable of contributing quickly if signed.
The workout fits Detroit’s current roster problem
The Lions are not simply searching for long-term developmental depth. Their immediate concern is getting through Week 3 with enough experienced defensive backs to handle expanded roles.
Detroit has already made short-term roster adjustments elsewhere. FSN recently covered the Lions elevating Devin Cochran and Seth McLaughlin with two starting offensive linemen unavailable. The defensive-back workouts reflect a similar willingness to add help quickly when injuries create a numbers problem.
What comes next
The next question is whether Detroit signs one of the three veterans after the workout. A transaction could come quickly if Maddox, Branch or Joseph is expected to miss additional time.
For now, the workout itself is the meaningful development: the Lions are actively evaluating veteran secondary help rather than waiting for their injured defensive backs to return.