After a Thanksgiving game that saw significant injuries on the defensive side, the Detroit Lions made several roster moves on Saturday, confirming previously reported changes and introducing a few new adjustments.
The Lions officially announced that linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez and rookie defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo would be placed on injured reserve due to season-ending knee injuries sustained in the Week 13 matchup against the Chicago Bears. With further uncertainty surrounding defensive linemen Josh Paschal and Levi Onwuzurike—both potentially unavailable for the Lions’ next game—Detroit needed to add depth to their defensive front.
To accommodate these changes, the Lions waived wide receiver/returner Maurice Alexander, who had been signed just days before Thanksgiving. Alexander served as the team’s primary punt and kick returner during the Bears game and also provided depth at wide receiver. While he is no longer on the active roster, it’s expected that Alexander will be added to the Lions’ practice squad, where he could be elevated for game days while Kalif Raymond remains on injured reserve.
With three open roster spots, the Lions signed linebacker Kwon Alexander from the Denver Broncos, defensive lineman Jonah Williams from the Los Angeles Rams, and Myles Adams from the Seattle Seahawks—filling all available slots. These additions were previously covered in other reports.
Adams (6-foot-2, 285 pounds) is somewhat undersized for an interior defensive lineman but brings a versatile skill set similar to that of Pat O’Connor. Adams has primarily played at the 3- and 1-techniques, though he is also capable of handling the 5-technique. After going undrafted in 2020 out of Rice University, Adams initially signed with the Carolina Panthers but was released during final cuts. He then joined the Seahawks, where he spent four seasons and played in 26 games, starting one in 2023. Following Seattle’s switch to a 3-4 defense in 2024, Adams’ role was diminished, and he has appeared in only three games this season. However, he had his best performance of the year in Week 4 against the Lions.
