The Detroit Lions have declared the practice squad players they wish to protect in Week 7 and they include tight end Isaac Nauta and cornerback/gunner Dee Virgin.
Nauta and Virgin have been protected players for the Lions every week in 2020 and each has been elevated to the active roster for one game — Virgin in Week 2 versus the Arizona Cardinals and Nauta in Week 6 versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ironically, those are the two games the Lions have won this season.
Despite having the option to protect up to four practice squad players each week, this is the second week in a row the Lions have protected fewer than the maximum — in Week 6 they only protected three players.
Last week, in addition to Nauta and Virgin, the Lions protected quarterback David Blough, but since then, Blough has been signed to the active roster, and the Lions elected to leave his protection spot open.
The only other players the Lions have used a protection label on are running back Jonathan Williams — who has since been released — and running back Kerrith Whyte — who is currently on the practice squad injured reserve’s list.
