The Detroit Lions made a practice squad move on Monday. They released wide receiver Lawrence Keys and signed veteran nose tackle Taki Taimani, a former Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman who brings size and run-stopping ability to the middle of Detroit’s defensive line.

You might remember Taimani from his time in Minnesota. He spent the last two and a half years with the Vikings after going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, and Minnesota signed him as an undrafted free agent. Before that, he played college football at Oregon and Washington.

What Taki Taimani brings to the Lions

Taimani is listed at 6-foot-1, 324 pounds. He’s a big-bodied nose tackle, and his primary job is simple. He eats space.

Think of D.J. Reader and what the Lions asked him to do. Tyleik Williams is big and can eat space too, but he also has some pass-rush ability. There’s more to his game than just clogging the middle.

Taimani is not that. You’re not bringing him in to rush the passer, and he doesn’t put up big numbers. You’re bringing him in because you want a big body in the middle who can occupy blockers and free up linebackers to make plays.

He has played just nine games in the league, all for the Vikings, and he recorded four tackles with no sacks. He spent time on both Minnesota’s active roster and its practice squad. The Vikings waived him in August with an injury designation, and he reverted to injured reserve after going unclaimed. Minnesota then waived him from injured reserve in September.

For the Lions, he’s more depth and a developmental piece than anything else. Still, the size is there to potentially help Detroit in short-yardage situations and against the run.

What does this mean for Tyler Lacy and Levi Onwuzurike?

At this point, I think the bigger question is what this move means for Tyler Lacy and Levi Onwuzurike.

Taimani is 27, so he’s a little older than you’d expect for a guy who has only been in the league a few years. But if the Lions can develop him into someone who simply eats space, I think he could do that job.

He’s not going to start. Tyleik Williams, Alim McNeill, and Skyler Gill-Howard are all in front of him. But Detroit needs somebody who can come in and be that run stuffer. Lacy has struggled to do that, and Onwuzurike has struggled even more.

That’s where this move starts to look like a push for both of them. You can understand why the Lions would want another option on the interior if neither guy is filling that role the way they hoped.

There could be a competitive edge here, too

There’s another way to look at it. Maybe the Lions signed Taimani to the practice squad for some sort of competitive edge against an NFC North opponent.

I think there’s some value to thinking that way. Taimani spent the last two and a half years with Brian Flores in Minnesota, so he could give Detroit some information and maybe help them find an edge against the Vikings.

But I still think the Lions are genuinely interested in him as a player. Taimani visited Detroit before the Week 7 game. They didn’t actually work him out. It was just a visit, which I’d imagine was some sort of medical check.

Either way, the interest is real. He’s on the practice squad for now, but I’d bet he gets a shot to be elevated after a week of practice.

It’s a small move on the surface, but it could put Lacy and Onwuzurike on notice. We’ll see what it means when it’s all said and done.

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