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The Detroit Lions are on their Week 6 bye, riding high after a 45-21 triumph over the Arizona Cardinals. However, the win came at a cost: three players, including linebacker Devin White, were placed on injured reserve.
White had been signed during the summer after injuries ravaged the linebacker corps in training camp, a situation that also slowed the development of fourth-round pick Jimmy Rolders. On Saturday, a possible replacement emerged when seventh-round selection Aidan Fisher was waived by the Houston Texans.
Fisher was a highly productive linebacker who followed head coach Curt Cignetti to Indiana and helped the Hoosiers win a National Championship. Though he was considered a rising prospect during his college career, his weakness in pass coverage was a concern. During the pre-draft process, multiple outlets, including Lions On SI, projected Fisher to Detroit as a depth piece for the linebacker room.
In his final three collegiate seasons, Fisher recorded 118, 108, and 97 tackles, with the last two coming against Big Ten competition. He also totaled 22 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and three interceptions. The Virginia native was a two-time first-team All-American, but his lack of athleticism and pass-coverage ability caused him to slip to the final 15 selections of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Fisher made the Texans' roster out of training camp but was waived on Saturday when injured linebacker Henry To'oto'o returned to the active roster. The Lions are now in a position to consider a waiver claim.
Key Analysis
Devin White was a proven pass rusher when blitzing, and Fisher showed similar ability with 4.5 sacks in his senior year at Indiana. However, White has also faced criticism for his pass coverage, and Fisher's coverage skills are a question mark. The Lions will likely evaluate internal options, including practice squad member Joe Bachie, who was active for a few games at the start of the 2026 season before being released and re-signed to the practice squad.
Given Fisher's collegiate production, the relatively low risk of a waiver claim makes it a worthwhile move for Detroit. If Fisher does not pan out, the Lions can let him walk and replace him with White once the former first-round pick is fully healthy. That said, it is unlikely Detroit will get the chance to claim Fisher, as the team currently sits in the mid-20s in the waiver order.