The Detroit Lions made a notable change on their practice squad, partially out of necessity.
The Tennessee Titans signed Lions defensive back Erick Hallett off the team’s practice squad, and the Lions responded by adding cornerback Keenan Garber.
Losing Hallett is notable, as he started Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams at safety. With Brian Branch on injured reserve, Kerby Joseph still nursing a knee injury, and Thomas Harper working his way through concussion protocol, Hallett started and played 55 snaps for the Lions at safety alongside veteran Avonte Maddox. Hallett was credited with 10 tackles and a pass defended in the game.
Hallet was originally a 2023 sixth-round pick for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he saw his first regular season action this year in three games for Detroit.
Typically, when a player is poached from the practice squad, the original team has the opportunity to retain them by signing them to their own 53-man squad, but it appears the Lions did not take that option. That could be a good sign for Harper’s availability moving forward. The Lions have also recently added veteran Jalen Mills from waivers and Damontae Kazee to the practice squad and they could be worked into the lineup after some time with the team.
To fill Hallett’s spot on the practice squad, they added Garber, an undrafted rookie who has spent his 2025 season with both the Vikings and Colts. He didn’t make Minnesota’s squad out of training camp, then he spent about three weeks on the Colts’ practice squad before being released in late October.
At 6-foot, 188 pounds, Garber was a two-year starter for Kansas State. In that time, he tallied 11 passes defended, two interceptions, and 51 tackles.
With no experience in the NFL yet, Garber is likely a player Detroit has interest in developing.
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