Lions Free Agency 2025 Medical Review: Myles Adams DT & Payton Turner DE
Low-risk and high-risk all in one article
Towards the end of the 2nd week of free agency, the Lions picked up two players on opposite ends of the medical concern spectrum. Most of free agency, the Lions have signed players with low concerns. With Payton Turner, the Lions have dipped their toe into the high concern pool.
For the full page of Lions free agents and their injury analysis, click here.
(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season.)
Myles Adams, DT (28)
Contract: 1 year, $1.145M
Concern level 1/10
2025: 0 games played
2024: 8 games
2023: 11 games
2022: 11 games
2021: 2 games
Adams appears to be medically clean in his career. He’s been lightly used recently having spent all last season on the Lions’ practice squad.
Age is getting close to 30 but isn’t much of a concern on a 1-year deal. He should provide healthy depth to the Lions defensive line if needed.
Payton Turner, DE (27)
Contract: pending
Concern level 10/10
2025: 0 games. Missed entire season with rib fracture injury.
2024: 16 games. Toe injury aggravation. Missed 1 game with knee.
2023: 2 games. Toe injury including 2 dislocated toes and torn ligaments, which necessitated surgery.
2022: 8 games. Missed games with low ankle sprain. Missed other games with chest.
2021: 5 games. Shoulder injury, to IR.
College: Season-ending foot injury.
High school: Missed most of senior year with ACL tear.
Turner did not play last season due to a rib fracture. Since a rib fracture typically does not keep a player out long-term and often can even be played through, his lengthy stint on IR could be due to “coach’s decision” more than injury. There shouldn’t be residual issues if it’s a simple rib fracture, but the reason for the lost season needs investigation. If he truly missed the entire season for a rib injury, that’s a problem.
While the rib isn’t likely a major concern, the toe/foot history certainly is. Severe toe injuries have a high risk of residuals (see Frank Ragnow), and Turner has already had aggravations following his toe surgery in 2023. This is all on top of another significant foot injury in college.
Turner’s shoulder injury and ACL might be in the rear-view mirror, but both could carry their own residuals.
The lack of action in over a year along with the multiple toe/foot issues plus significant knee & shoulder injuries all adds up to a very high concern level.
On the optimistic side, he had a mostly reliable 2024 season and is still just 27 years old.
Given the Lions recent history of injuries, there is understandably some consternation about Brad Holmes signing a high-risk player. The counterpoint is that there are 90 preseason roster spots, so taking a flyer on one isn’t a big deal. I doubt there will be much, if any, guaranteed money. And like the reader below states, Turner is not guaranteed to make the 53-man roster.
For an example of something that can go wrong with the toe, here is my video on Taylor Decker’s toe sesamoidectomy…