Detroit Lions sign veteran linebacker after devastating injuries, but there’s a catch with what he brings to defense
The Lions have added veteran linebacker K.J. Britt to help an injury-depleted position group. His experience and physicality should help, but his limitations in coverage raise questions about how Detroit will use him.
The Detroit Lions lost both Jack Campbell and Jimmy Rodler in Sunday’s win over the Minnesota Vikings. So they definitely could use some linebacker help. They went out and got it by signing veteran linebacker K.J. Britt.
The former fifth-round pick has been in the league since 2021 and has played in 77 career games. He’s started 16 of them. Britt has spent this season with the Patriots on their practice squad, where the Lions poached him from.
He spent his first four seasons with the Buccaneers and started 11 games for them in 2024, recording 72 tackles, two tackles for loss, and half a sack. He’s a physical linebacker who does his best work against the run. He’s a pretty reliable tackler, he’s not afraid to come downhill and get into the action, and he brings the kind of physicality that Dan Campbell likes from his linebackers. The problem is that coverage isn’t really his strong suit. That’s something the Lions are going to have to account for if they’re planning to give him significant defensive snaps.
As far as his fit goes, I wouldn’t look at Britt as someone who’s going to come in and replace everything Jack Campbell brings to this defense. That’s just not realistic. He’s much better suited to playing an early-down role, helping against the run and giving the Lions another experienced body while they figure out what they’re going to do at linebacker. There’s also a special teams element here that shouldn’t be overlooked. Britt played a significant role on special teams during his time in Tampa Bay and Miami, and that’s something Detroit values quite a bit. The Lions can get something out of this signing, especially if they keep his responsibilities relatively simple. But if you’re looking for a linebacker who can consistently hold up in coverage and stay on the field for all three downs, Britt probably isn’t going to be that guy.
He’ll share reps with Malcolm Rodriguez, Derrick Barnes, Joe Bachie, and Trevor Nowaske as the Lions likely try to replace Campbell by committee.
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