As training cap injuries continue to mount for the Detroit Lions, Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes are relying on the availability of talented UFL players to fill the roster.
With Injuries Mounting, Detroit Lions Increasingly Relying on the UFL
Currently, there are seven players on injured reserve in addition to DL Levi Onwuzurike, who has been designated with a reserve /PUP status, allowing his season-ending surgery. More than 40 UFL players have made NFL rosters this preseason. To date, Holmes has brought in eight UFL players , including CB Nick Whiteside and RB Jacob Saylors .
The latest UFL Lions roster additions are former San Antonio Brahmas TE Steven Stilianos, Michigan Panthers All-UFL Team TE Gunnar Oakes , and CB D.J. Miller. Running back Deon Jackson , fresh off the championship-winning D.C. Defenders team, was signed by Detroit last week.
The Lions Competition At Tight End
6’4” 252 lb. Oakes, a Michigan native and graduate of Eastern Michigan University, spent two seasons with the Panthers. Used primarily as a run-blocker by the Panthers, Oakes saw limited usage in Michigan’s high-powered offense, recording 162 yards and two touchdowns last season.
Stilianos attended the University of Iowa with LaPorta and LB Jack Campbell. He previously played for the Tennessee Titans before joining the Brahmas last year. Like Oakes, he is known primarily for his run-blocking ability. He posted 86 receiving yards and one touchdown. However, one advantage Stilianos brings is his versatility. He played high school quarterback, and he can still throw a football. As part of a trick play for the Brahmas last season, he launched a 38-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dee Anderson.
As the Lions prepare for their upcoming game against the Miami Dolphins Saturday afternoon, both Oakes and Stilianos have a terrific opportunity to prove themselves worthy of a roster spot. The normally full Lions TE room is down two players following the season-ending knee injury to Kenny Yeboah and the temporary absence of Sam LaPorta.
LaPorta, the Lions’ number one tight end, left practice Wednesday with an undisclosed injury. According to Campbell, “It’s not major, but he will miss a little bit of time here.”
With Yeboah out and LaPorta temporarily sidelined, Oakes and Stilianos will compete against promising UDFA rookie Zach Horton and veterans Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra . Wright has the number two TE spot locked up. Zylstra is a strong candidate for the number-three slot. Horton, the 23-year-old Indiana Hoosier, has had a strong training camp, displaying versatility as a run-blocking TE who can also play fullback.
The Lions Competition At Cornerback
Following the recent season-ending injury of second-year talent Ennis Rakestraw , there could be an opportunity for a newcomer in the Lions’ crowded cornerback room. However, competing against fellow UFL talent Whiteside and veterans D.J. Reed , Amik Robertson , Rock Ya-Sin, and Terrion Arnold , Miller has his work cut out for him.
In addition, the Lions have several other cornerbacks signed to the 90-man roster: Tyson Russell, a UDFA rookie out of Vanderbilt, Allen George , and Luq Barcoo . Russell is a UDFA rookie out of Vanderbilt. George, another Vanderbilt graduate, previously spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Commanders . Former Jacksonville Jaguars’ Barcoo is a spring football alum who played for the XFL San Antonio Brahmas.
Miller, the 5’10” 185 lb. cornerback, transferred to Kent State from Iowa State for his final two years of eligibility. He appeared in 12 games for the Golden Flashes, recording 50 tackles, three pass defenses, and a fumble recovery. Ahead of the 2024 NFL season, he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a UDFA. However, most of his time was spent on the practice squad.
Upon his release, Miller signed with the Panthers in December of 2024. During his time with Michigan, he made the most of his opportunity, picking off Stallions quarterback Matt Corral twice in one game. In addition, he was credited with 35 tackles and seven pass breakups.
Why UFL Players Make Sense For The Lions
One of the biggest advantages of signing UFL athletes is that they’re already in great shape, having just finished the UFL season. They are also eager for a chance to prove themselves in the NFL. These players are hungry and disciplined. Although most of the UFL players signed during the Holmes era were assigned to the practice squad, the Lions signed others who made the roster. The team found a talented kicker in Jake Bates, who made the Pro Bowl as an alternate last year.
The UFL athletes the Lions signed have already met the litmus test. They exhibit the character traits the Lions value. They align perfectly with the team culture. Now, these former UFL players have a genuine opportunity to prove themselves with a real shot at making an NFL roster.
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