Lions Place Anthony Firkser on Injured Reserve After Broken Fibula

Detroit signed tight end Zach Horton to restore practice depth and keep the tight end room functional during camp.

Overview

Anthony Firkser suffered a broken fibula during Monday’s padded practice and the Lions placed him on Reserve/Injured, removing him from the active roster.
Detroit filled Firkser’s roster spot by signing Zach Horton, a 23-year-old who spent 2025 with the team and can step into drills quickly because he already knows the system.
Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright remain the clear top two tight ends and Horton is expected to compete for a depth role rather than take over Firkser’s offensive snaps immediately.
The position room was already thin because rookie Miles Kitselman is expected to be out “for a while” and Detroit recently added Nick Muse to provide another healthy body.
Placing Firkser on Reserve/Injured lets the Lions keep enough players available for padded practices and preseason evaluation, and it creates an opening for younger tight ends to prove they can handle game duties.