With their safety depth thinned by injuries, the Lions have added a nine-year vet who once led the NFL in interceptions. The Lions on Monday signed free agent Damontae Kazee to the practice squad.
Kazee, 32, started this season with the Browns before being released in October after playing sparingly in four games. He last played significant snaps in 2024 and was last a consistent starter in 2023, both years with the Steelers.
Kazee's best season was in 2018 with the Falcons, who drafted him in the fifth round the year prior, when he had an NFL-best seven interceptions, plus 10 passes defended and 82 tackles.
The Lions lost Brian Branch for the season due to a torn Achilles in their win over the Cowboys last week, while fellow star safety Kerby Joseph has missed the last seven games with a lingering knee injury. The Lions hope to get Joseph back soon, perhaps for Sunday's game against the Rams, but his timeline still isn't clear.
"Anytime you lose somebody like BB it’s going to hurt," Dan Campbell said Monday. "I mean, he’s a productive player. He’s an outstanding football player. And he’s a team guy, a great locker room guy, his teammates love him, so you lose all of that. That hurts."
Thomas Harper, who has played well in place of Joseph, was also knocked out of last week's game with a concussion and remains in concussion protocol, Campbell said Monday. Avonte Maddox stepped in for Harper, while Daniel Thomas came on late for Branch.
Campbell had high praise for Maddox, who he said "did a hell of a job. He played his tail off, which is why he’s here, because he's a football guy. He’s got versatility, a nickel that can play safety. Man, he put out a lot of fires back there for us, made quite a few plays, so that’s encouraging."
"We’ve got him, we’ve got DT back there, (Erick) Hallett’s played there before. We’re going to see if Kerby -- see where he’s at -- get him some reps here in practice. So, we’re good, man," Campbell said. "We signed Kazee, see where he’s at, practice squad, so we’ve got options here. It’s like anything, you lose a good player, it hurts. But it’s not like we’re in dire straits."