Pro Football Rumors
In need of safety depth, the Lions have found a veteran late in the year. Damontae Kazee is set to join Detroit for the stretch run.
Kazee is signing with the Lions on their practice squad, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. If all goes well, he will be on the team’s active roster in short order. Detroit lost Brian Branch to an Achilles tear on Thursday, ending his season. The Kazee signing has since been announced by head coach Dan Campbell.
Of course, Kazee will not be tasked with replacing Branch’s production or his place in the starting lineup. Nevertheless, he could provide the Lions with veteran depth in the secondary and on special teams. Kazee has made 111 regular season appearances in the NFL, including four earlier this season with the Browns.
Last month, Cleveland released Kazee. He remained on the open market since then, but this Detroit deal will allow for the ninth-year veteran to carve out a role on his latest team. The Lions are currently 8-5, good for third in the NFC North. Detroit is on the outside of the playoff picture right now, and inconsistent play on defense (fueled in no small part by injuries, just like in 2024) has played a key role.
The Lions rank mid-pack in a number of defensive categories this year, and they are 19th in the NFL in terms of passing yards allowed. Losing Branch will hinder the team’s ability to improve in a number of areas down the stretch, but managing to replace him represents a major goal for the next four games. Kazee – who has made 63 starts, many of which came early in his career – will look to contribute in some capacity. Doing so would provide a boost to his chances of landing a deal relatively soon in free agency come the spring.
