Detroit Lions fill 53-man roster by signing Seth McLaughlin

Aug 22, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Luke Altmyer (2) lines up behind center Seth McLaughlin (65) in the second quarter against the Washington Commanders at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Detroit Lions' 53-man roster is back to a full 53 players after the team announced two internal moves on Wednesday. Center Seth McLaughlin signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, and the team backfilled his spot on the practice squad by re-signing linebacker Joe Bachie.

This is all the result of a few roster moves made earlier in the week. Detroit signed safety Jalen Mills to the practice squad, signed Bishop Fitzgerald to the 53-man roster off of the Steelers' practice squad, and placed Avonte Maddox on injured reserve.

So combining the two sets of transactions, it looks like this:

53-man roster changes:

• Lost
  • Cut LB Joe Bachie
  • Placed S Avonte Maddox on IR
• Added
  • Poached S Bishop Fitzgerald from Steelers practice squad
  • Signed C Seth McLaughlin from own practice squad

Practice squad changes:

• Lost
  • C Seth McLaughlin from practice squad to 53-man roster
• Added
  • S Jalen Mills (takes vacant spot from weekend)
  • LB Joe Bachie

McLaughlin gets the promotion and should serve as the team's primary backup center while Cade Mays remains on injured reserve with a broken wrist. In Week 1, the Lions opted to go without McLaughlin in the active lineup-risking Tate Ratledge as the emergency center behind Juice Scruggs. But in Week 2, McLaughlin was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster-though he did not log a single snap. McLaughlin has yet to make his NFL debut after going undrafted in 2025.