League: NFL Sport: Football Country: United States Category: Injuries

Detroit Lions place Thomas Harper on IR ahead of Week 3 vs. Jets

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 26, 2026, 8:12 PM

Last updated Sep 26, 2026

Detroit Lions place Thomas Harper on IR ahead of Week 3 vs. Jets

Summary

The Detroit Lions have placed safety Thomas Harper on injured reserve and elevated two defensive players for their Week 3 game against the New York Jets. Harper's ankle injury, sustained during Week 2 against the Bills, will keep him out for at least four weeks. Christian Izen will transition to starting safety, while veteran Jalen Mills has been signed from the practice squad to help fill the void. The Lions are currently missing four of their top five safety options due to injuries, and they are making adjustments to their defensive lineup in response to these challenges.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Harper's ankle injury occurred during Week 2 against the Bills.
•Izen will start at safety opposite veteran Chuck Clark.
•Mills has rejoined the team after signing from the practice squad.
•Avonte Maddox is also on IR due to a season-ending injury.
•The Lions will use adjusted defensive roles for their upcoming game.

Latest Updates

8:18 PMYahoo Sports — Detroit Lions Shake Up Roster Before Week 3 Game
8:12 PMYahoo Sports — Detroit Lions place S Thomas Harper on IR, elevate 2 defenders for Week 3

What they're saying

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The Detroit Lions placed Thomas Harper on injured reserve and elevated Jalen Mills and Amen Ogbongbemiga for Sunday’s game against the Jets.
— Yahoo Sports