Lions finally add depth to cornerback room ahead of Week 5 against Bengals

The Detroit Lions continue to rework their roster after the signing of Ty Summers earlier on Tuesday. The team signed veteran cornerback Tre Flowers, along with releasing 3rd year wide receiver Ronnie Bell.

Flowers will be replacing Bell on the Lions practice squad, joining Summers. Aaron Wilsonwas the first to report the transaction.

Flowers has been in the NFL since 2018, coming out of Oklahoma State as a 5th round draft pick to the Seattle Seahawks. Flowers started as a rookie with Seattle, starting 40 games and making 47 appearances before his release during the middle of the 2021 season.

Lions add to practice squad, cornerback depth with Flowers signing

Since his time in Seattle, Flowers has bounced around the NFL, often filling in for teams due to injuries. His 2021 season saw him appear in the Super Bowl with the Cincinnati Bengals, earning him another season in Cincinnati.

Flowers would spend 2023 with the Atlanta Falcons, before jumping around with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears in 2024. Most recently, he spent 2025 training camp with the Bears, getting released during final cuts.

Falling victim to Flowers/Summers' signing is Ronnie Bell, who is in his 3rd season in the NFL and his first with the Lions. Bell was a 7th round pick in 2023, coming out of Michigan and spending his first two seasons with 49ers. Bell was signed to a future deal by Detroit in January, making the initial practice squad.

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The Lions can't take any risks to their already thin cornerback depth, which is what makes this signing make some sense. Adding insurance to a unit set to feature Khalil Dorsey, Rock Ya-Sin, Amik Robertson, and Avonte Maddox due to injuries makes the Flowers signing all the more important. While these are capable defenders, they're not on the same level as D.J. Reed at the moment.

With the Lions already without CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr., as well, the team is beyond shorthanded four weeks into the season, and they're looking for reinforcements with experience.

Currently, the Lions still roster DB Erick Hallett and safety Loren Strickland as possible elevations along with Flowers in the secondary. The Lions are scheduled to travel to Cincinnati for Week 5, looking to improve to 4-1 against the Joe Burrow-less Bengals.