The Detroit Lions are one of the NFL’s most beloved franchises since Brad Holmes, and Dan Campbell have taken over the team in 2021, unfortunately they have been one of the unluckiest. In 2024, the Lions saw almost 20 players find their way on injured reserve with 2025 starting off just as bad for the team.
So far, the Lions have seen the Lions are already placing Four players on Injured Reserve with a Fifth player in Morice Norris suffering a scary injury that caused their preseason matchup to be cancelled late in the fourth quarter Friday night.
This week the Lions have went to the spring football ranks twice with the signings of 2025 Michigan Panther D.J. Miller, and 2023 San Antonio Brahma Luq Barcoo both signing contracts with the Lions due to an injury to Ennis Rakestraw Jr. which landed him on injured reserve per NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The Lions are currently dealing with an injury to another Cornerback Terrion Arnold who is dealing with a Hamstring injury, and Amik Roberston who is coming back from a broken arm he suffered in January.
The Lions have already gone to the UFL “well” in July before the Barcoo and Miller signings, bringing in St. Louis Battlehawk Nick Whiteside, in addition to signing Dicaprio Bootle and Tyson Russell on July 18th. The Lions continue to retool their roster as injuries continue to mount.
Since 2022, the Lions have signed 17 players in the modern spring league era. Of those 17, Maurice Alexander, Darrin Paulo, Trey Quinn, Kaden Davis, Matt McCrane, and Jake Bates all spending time on their Active Roster or Practice Squad. Alexander and Bates have both appeared in a game with Bates becoming one of the NFL’s best kickers along with a source of great advertising for the UFL. Currently the Lions have Six UFL players on their roster in addition to working out Four other UFL players who they did not sign.
Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell has been on record stating that he thinks the UFL would be a great farm system for the NFL, while others around the NFL have stated the similarities to something like NFL Europe would benefit both players and the NFL.
Currently like all NFL teams, injuries are beginning to mount and the UFL has seen 39 players (40 with RJ Moten), earn contracts as the 1st week of preseason games begin. Currently the Lions have not only the above-mentioned players on Injured Reserve but multiple members of the team that are slated to start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform List once final cuts begin. With Two more preseason games and about 20 more days of training camp it’s extremely possible Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes continue to dive into the UFL pot.
