Detroit Lions Sign Former Vikings DL Taki Taimani to Practice Squad, Release Lawrence Keys

The Detroit Lions signed former Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Taki Taimani to their practice squad on Tuesday, turning to an interior run defender as they prepare for a divisional matchup against their NFC North rivals, Lions Wire reported.

Adding Size to the Defensive Front

Taimani arrives in Allen Park following a tryout last week at the Allen Park Performance Center, as Sports Illustrated detailed. At 6-foot-1 and 309 pounds, according to Lions Wire, or 324 pounds as Detroit Sports Nation noted, the undrafted 2024 product out of Oregon brings immediate interior depth. Taimani spent his rookie campaign with the Vikings after earning an initial 53-man roster spot, appearing in seven games that year. He saw action in two more games during the 2025 season, logging nine total regular-season appearances and four tackles in Minnesota.

Pro Football Focus charted Taimani across his two seasons in Minnesota. In 2024, he logged 70 defensive snaps and earned a 61.2 overall defensive grade. Last season, his playing time dipped to 35 defensive snaps, accompanied by a 27.4 overall defensive grade from PFF. Before reaching the NFL, Taimani collected 22 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one quarterback hurry, and one fumble recovery during his 2023 season with the Oregon Ducks.

Detroit Lions Sign Former Vikings DL Taki Taimani to Practice Squad, Release Lawrence Keys — Photo: detroitsportsnation.com

This latest addition continues a recent front office trend. General manager Brad Holmes has steadily churned the practice squad along the defensive line throughout the month. Chris Smith was let go earlier in October, while Aidan Keanaaina and Jeffrey M’ba were brought aboard. Detroit Sports Nation pointed out that Taimani’s arrival gives the coaching staff another big-bodied defender to evaluate, though he joins the practice squad rather than the active roster.

Clearing Room for the New Lineman

To clear a spot for Taimani, the Lions released wide receiver Lawrence Keys from the practice squad. Keys signed with Detroit in June following a standout stint in the UFL with the Houston Gamblers, where he finished second in the league with 1,001 all-purpose yards across a 10-game schedule.

Lions have released WR Lawrence Keys from the Practice Squad and signed DL Taki Taimani to the Practice Squad. pic.twitter.com/k9AcTaG6Hf

— https://x.com/Lions/status/2115174043821527081

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound wideout recorded 349 receiving yards on 24 receptions with two touchdowns for Houston. He also served as a dynamic return specialist, returning 19 kickoffs for 518 yards and 11 punts for 134 yards—good for a 12.2-yard punt return average that ranked third in the league, according to Lions Wire. After going undrafted in 2024 out of Tulane—following an earlier college stint at Notre Dame where he combined for 81 catches, 1,080 yards, and nine career scores—Keys spent time with the Buffalo Bills before landing in Detroit.

Keys initially suffered a training camp waiver with an injury designation in August before returning to the practice squad on September 30. Detroit Sports Nation noted that Keys had drawn consideration as an option in the return game following Tom Kennedy’s season-ending knee injury. However, the team recently promoted veteran return specialist DeAndre Carter to the active roster, altering the organization’s immediate depth priorities.

Looking Ahead at Ford Field

Head coach Dan Campbell struck an optimistic tone during his Monday media session when reviewing the defense’s performance in a Week 7 win over the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. The unit surrendered just 17 points and kept Packers quarterback Jordan Love under control.

That was a really good outing, man. That’s two weeks in a row. I feel like our defense is playing pretty good football now, gaining a lot of confidence, Campbell said.

Campbell specifically highlighted the disruptive nature of the front line, pointing to Aidan Hutchinson’s early sack as a tone-setting moment that stalled the run game and neutralized Green Bay’s passing attack. While Taimani's addition does not guarantee an immediate game-day elevation against Minnesota, the transaction shows Detroit's ongoing competition and roster evaluation along the trenches.