Detroit Lions host RB Kareem Hunt, try out two cornerbacks

In one of the more fascinating visits to Allen Park, the Detroit Lions hosted former Pro Bowl running Kareem Hunt at the team facility on Tuesday, per the NFL transaction list.

Hunt was a third-round pick in 2017 and immediately put together an impressive rookie season with the Kansas City Chiefs, rushing for 1,327 yards, eight touchdowns, and 4.9 yards per carry. Unfortunately for Hunt, that would turn out to be his best career season. He has since dealt with several injuries and an ugly off-field incident where video surfaced of him assaulting a 19-year-old girl. He was promptly released by the Chiefs less than two years into his career, but never faced criminal charges.

Since then, Hunt spent five seasons with the Browns before returning to the Chiefs in 2024. He has had three seasons where he eclipsed 700 rushing yards (2018, 2020, 2024) and is coming off a pretty strong season in which he somewhat ironically outpaced new Lions running back Isiah Pacheco. In 2024, Hunt rushed for 611 yards, 3.7 yards per carry, and eight touchdowns. Pacheco only managed 462 yards and a single rushing touchdown despite starting 12 games.

The reasoning for the Lions’ presumed interest in Hunt is not entirely clear. Detroit did recently lose two running backs in their latest preseason game. Raheem Blackshear was placed on injured reserved and promptly released with an injury settlement, while Jabari Small suffered a concussion against the Commanders. The Lions still have Jahmyr Gibbs, Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors, Trayveon Williams and newly signed Roydell Williams healthy, but they may not want to play most of those players in their preseason finale on Saturday.

The one unknown is the health of presumed RB2 Isiah Pacheco. The veteran running back has been sidelined with an MCL sprain, but at the time, coach Dan Campbell said they weren’t fearful of that threatening his start to the regular season.

“We feel pretty good about him being ready to go, certainly when the season gets here,” Campbell said two weeks ago. “So, I’m not concerned about that.”

On top of that, the Lions also hosted two cornerbacks for a tryout: Shaun Jolly and Eric Scott. Jolly went undrafted out of Appalachian State in 2022 and spent three seasons with the Rams—appearing in six games—before losing his entire 2025 season to injury. At 5-foot-9, 180 pounds, Jolly has some versatility to play on the outside and inside.

Scott is more of a pure outside cornerback at 6-foot-2, 197 pounds. He has yet to make his first NFL appearance since being drafted by the Cowboys in the sixth round back in 2023, but he’s spent time on both Dallas‘ and Kansas City‘s practice squad.