The Detroit Lions have made a quick roster move to shore up their depleted secondary following the NFL’s decision to uphold safety Brian Branch’s one-game suspension. Branch will miss Week 7 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after throwing a punch at a Kansas City Chiefs player in the postgame scuffle on October 12.
In a swift response, the Lions have signed safety Jammie Robinson from the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The signing was announced less than an hour after the league confirmed Branch’s suspension appeal had been denied. Robinson joins Detroit on a one-year deal and is expected to provide immediate depth in the secondary.
Robinson, 24, was selected in the fifth round (No. 145 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. He spent his rookie year playing a key role on special teams, logging about 70% of special teams snaps in 15 games and starting two contests. However, his role declined in 2024, appearing in only six games before being released by Carolina. He later joined the Chiefs practice squad in late August but did not appear in any regular-season games for Kansas City.
In his brief NFL career, Robinson has recorded 20 combined tackles in 21 games, with most of his contributions coming on special teams. Over his two seasons with Carolina, he played 366 special teams snaps and 75 defensive snaps.
Before entering the league, Robinson had a standout college career at South Carolina and Florida State, where he was known for his aggressive tackling and ball-hawking ability. In 47 collegiate games, he tallied 319 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, seven interceptions, 16 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and a sack. His best statistical season came in 2021 at Florida State, when he intercepted four passes.
The Lions’ secondary has been ravaged by injuries, with Kerby Joseph battling a knee issue and multiple cornerbacks — including Terrion Arnold, Avonte Maddox, Khalil Dorsey, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., and D.J. Reed — either sidelined or on injured reserve. That means Robinson could see meaningful snaps on defense as soon as Monday Night Football against Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers.
Though primarily a special teams contributor so far, Robinson now has an opportunity to carve out a bigger defensive role with Detroit — a team desperate for healthy bodies and reliable playmakers in the back end.
