The Detroit Lions added cornerback Eric Scott Jr. on Thursday after a recent tryout, giving the club another body in a secondary that has been thinned by injuries as the 53-man roster deadline approaches.
The move was first reported by Pride of Detroit’s Eric Schlitt.
Scott, who entered the league as a sixth-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2023, most recently spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs. He remains available because he has yet to appear in a regular-season NFL game.
The Cowboys waived him after he stayed inactive as a rookie. He later landed on Kansas City’s practice squad and injury reserve without seeing the field.
Scott arrived from Southern Mississippi, where he played 34 games from 2020 to 2022. He finished that stretch with 78 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and five interceptions.
Lions coach Dan Campbell has made clear he will not risk his primary starters in the final preseason game. That stance created an opening for a veteran free agent who can take snaps Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts.
The Colts contest is scheduled for Saturday, roughly 48 hours after the signing. A solid showing could keep Scott in the conversation for a roster spot when cuts arrive.
Injuries have already sidelined Nick Whiteside, Christian Izien and Thomas Harper. Those absences left the coaching staff looking for insurance at cornerback and safety.
Scott projects as a depth piece rather than an immediate starter. Still, the timing is practical. Training camp is in its last week and the roster experiment is not finished.
The Lions’ cornerback group has already changed this offseason. Terrion Arnold is gone. Veteran D.J. Reed is expected to start, with Roger McCreary and Rock Ya-Sin among the leading candidates to join him.
Ennis Rakestraw has played in both preseason games so far. Khalil Dorsey and rookie Keith Abney are also in the mix. Scott could join that group on the field Saturday.
Campbell’s staff has emphasized competition and depth heading into the 2026 season. Adding a player who has bounced between two Super Bowl-caliber organizations fits that approach even if his NFL resume remains blank.
Scott will have limited time to prove he belongs. The 53-man deadline leaves little room for lengthy evaluation. One more preseason game is the last chance for many players on the bubble.
Lions officials have not issued a public comment on the signing. The transaction itself signals they wanted extra coverage options before they finalize the roster.
Whether Scott sticks around after cuts will depend on how he performs if he plays and how the injury list looks by the end of the weekend. For now he is simply the newest name in a crowded secondary.
The Lions continue to tinker as they try to build enough depth to survive a long season. Scott’s arrival is one more late-August adjustment with roster decisions looming.
