Julian Hicks Draws Detroit Lions Workout After Two-Year Packers Development Run and Short CFL Stop — Why This Matters for Both Teams

Table of Contents

1. Key Highlights:
2. Introduction
3. Julian Hicks: From Albany Production to NFL Opportunity
4. How the Packers Used Hicks: Developmental Time and Preseason Evaluation
5. Why Detroit Brought Him In: Roster Context and Opportunity
6. What an NFL Workout Entails — From Tryout to Contract
7. Special Teams: The Fastest Route to a Roster Spot
8. CFL to NFL: Proven Pathways and Cautionary Tales
9. The NFC North Angle: Division Rivalries and Familiarity
10. Comparing Hicks to Similar NFL Journeys
11. What Scouts and Coaches Will Watch for in Camp
12. Roster Mechanics and Timing: How Hicks Could Land in Detroit
13. Projecting Outcomes: Realistic Paths for Hicks This Season
14. Broader Implications for Team Building and Player Development
15. Real-World Comparisons: How Similar Stories Played Out
16. How Green Bay Might Respond If Hicks Signs with Detroit
17. What Fans Should Expect Over the Next Few Weeks
18. Conclusion Without the Phrase
19. FAQ

Key Highlights:

• The Detroit Lions worked out former Green Bay Packers developmental receiver Julian Hicks, who spent two seasons on Green Bay’s practice squad after going undrafted from Albany and recently had a brief stint with the CFL’s Edmonton Elks.
• Hicks’ size (6'2", 201 lbs), preseason flashes in Green Bay, and special-teams upside make him a candidate for depth or practice-squad duty; Detroit’s open No. 5 receiver spot and emphasis on special teams created the timing for the workout.
• The move illustrates two trends: NFL clubs mine nearby and divisional rosters for low-cost, high-upside options, and players can use practice squads and alternative leagues to re-enter NFL conversations.

Introduction

A short workout can change the arc of a fringe NFL career. Julian Hicks, a 26-year-old receiver who spent two seasons developing inside the Green Bay Packers’ system and took a recent detour to the Canadian Football League, found himself on the radar of a division rival when the Detroit Lions brought him in for a tryout. The workout does not guarantee a contract. It does, however, place him squarely in contention to compete for playing time or a practice-squad role with a team that has identified its No. 5 receiver job as unsettled.

Hicks’ journey—undrafted out of Albany, added and retained by Green Bay across multiple training camps and practice squads, briefly signed to the Edmonton Elks before final CFL cuts—provides a case study in how fringe players navigate the modern pro-football ecosystem. The Lions’ interest underscores how clubs evaluate roster depth, special-teams value, and positional fit during training camp. This article explains Hicks’ background, why Detroit conducted a workout, how clubs convert tryouts into roster moves, and what his presence inside the NFC North could mean for both franchises.

Julian Hicks: From Albany Production to NFL Opportunity

Julian Hicks finished his college career at the University at Albany with production that made NFL scouts take notice: 72 catches for 1,139 yards and 17 touchdowns across 23 games. Those totals reflect an ability to find the end zone and to be a target in collegiate systems that required him to win contested situations. His physical frame—listed at 6-foot-2 and 201 pounds—matches the archetype NFL teams often seek for a boundary receiver who can also hold up against press coverage.

Green Bay signed Hicks as an undrafted free agent in May 2024. He flashed in two successive preseasons. During his initial preseason in 2024, he produced a modest but encouraging stat line: one catch for 23 yards and a 14-yard carry across three games. He missed the final 53-man roster that year but was re-signed to the Packers’ practice squad immediately after final cuts, a common path for undrafted players the organization believes can develop.

The 2025 preseason again saw Hicks earning reps. He caught five passes for 31 yards on eight targets across three games. Those numbers did not translate into a roster spot at the time, but Green Bay re-signed him to the practice squad on Jan. 6, 2026, ahead of its postseason push. Hicks remained a practice-squad player through the winter and then explored opportunities north of the border when the Edmonton Elks signed him ahead of their training camp. The Elks released him during final CFL roster cuts on May 31, 2026.

Hicks’ path demonstrates how production at smaller college programs can open doors, even if the immediate leap to an active NFL roster does not occur. Teams value size, ball skills, and developmental upside; Hicks’ repeated signings by Green Bay show a level of organizational interest that outlasted an initial waiver.

How the Packers Used Hicks: Developmental Time and Preseason Evaluation

Green Bay treated Hicks the way many NFL teams treat promising undrafted receivers: give developmental time, monitor progress in practice, and evaluate performances under preseason conditions. The organization’s decision to sign him twice—initially as a rookie UDFA and again to the practice squad in January 2026—indicates a belief in his traits and a desire to keep him within their offensive structure.

Practice squad tenure offers players access to NFL coaching, playbooks, and game-planning methodology. For a receiver, that time is valuable: it accelerates route-running detail, timing with quarterbacks, and understanding of complex pro defenses. Hicks’ preseason catches—though not eye-popping—revealed enough ball security to keep interest alive. More significantly, his physical profile affords the potential to fill two types of roles: boundary receiving in larger personnel packages and special-teams contributions, particularly as a gunner or blocker on punt and kickoff units.

Teams rarely keep marginal players simply because of potential; the gap between the practice squad and active roster comes down to reliability on a reproducible skill set. Hicks’ repeated presence on the Packers’ radar suggests he hit enough developmental milestones to remain under consideration, even if he did not break the 53-man roster. Green Bay’s willingness to bring him back during the postseason hints at how organizations maintain institutional memory of certain players; familiarity carries value.

Why Detroit Brought Him In: Roster Context and Opportunity

Detroit’s workout of Hicks is strategic and timely. The Lions entered training camp with a set of established starters—Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams—and returning contributors like Isaac TeSlaa, who scored six touchdowns as a rookie, and slot specialist Greg Dortch. Those names occupy the top four receiving slots on the depth chart, but the team’s own training camp materials identified the fifth receiver position as unsettled and likely to be decided by special-teams value.

When a team perceives a marginal roster spot as open, it will audition low-cost options quickly. Workouts have several near-term objectives: confirm physical health, test route-running and hands, evaluate special-teams capability, and gauge the player’s grasp of a new offense. Hicks offers an immediate profile that could fit the Lions’ needs. At 6'2" and 201 pounds, he provides a size contrast to Detroit’s slot and speed threats. If he can execute basic blocking assignments, display dependable hands in contested situations, and contribute reliably on coverage or return units, he becomes a candidate for the roster’s bottom rungs.

The Lions have been active shuffling the roster during camp, adjusting based on injuries and performance. They waived Lawrence Keys with an injury designation early in camp and signed Tarik Black shortly afterward. That kind of churn signals a willingness to experiment with roster composition while preserving flexibility. A Hicks signing would add another option to the back end of the receiver competition before preseason games offer more meaningful reps.

What an NFL Workout Entails — From Tryout to Contract

A workout is a short, controlled audition. Teams cordon off a practice field and put a player through a condensed battery of drills: route-running reps, catching drills including contested-catch scenarios, agility and speed tests, and special-teams exercises. Coaches and scouts evaluate mechanics, hand-eye coordination, body control, and how quickly a player can absorb terminology.

If a workout draws a favorable report, the team considers three primary paths:

• Sign the player to the 90-man offseason roster or to the active roster if camp is ongoing and roster space exists. This immediately integrates the player into full-team practices and game planning.
• Sign the player to the practice squad, either after a preseason release or via a direct addition if the player clears waivers and the timing aligns. Practice-squad signings let teams stash developmental players while maintaining roster flexibility.
• Decline to sign, keeping the player's film on file for future emergencies or injuries across the league.

For a player like Hicks, the most likely immediate outcomes are a short-term contract to attend camp or a practice-squad deal. Getting onto the 53-man roster would require Hicks to outplay incumbents on special teams and show consistent receiving progress during limited reps, or to be the best immediate answer to an in-camp injury.

Workouts also serve a lesser-appreciated function: information gathering. Teams will bring in players with experience in rival systems to evaluate whether any injuries, tendencies, or developmental traits make them immediate fits for their schemes. Bringing in a former division teammate carries the added benefit of scouting a player who knows the opponents’ coaching styles and installations.

Special Teams: The Fastest Route to a Roster Spot

Special teams determine many roster decisions at the back end of a roster. When the positional battle is tight, coaches look for players who can contribute on snaps that will matter early in the season—punts, kickoffs, returns and coverage. A receiver who is a reliable gunner, who blocks well on returns, or who can be trusted to not commit penalties, moves up the pecking order quickly.

For receivers without a clearly defined offensive role, special-teams competence is often decisive. Evaluators assess pursuit angles, tackling technique on coverage units, blocking strength on return teams, and willingness to take physical contact. A player who can immediately answer those needs provides a two-for-one value: potential offensive depth and immediate special-teams impact.

Coaches also prize versatility. A receiver who can operate outside and in the slot, who can be trusted to execute on third downs and chip-block defenders, and who has the agility to play on coverage units becomes more than a developmental stash. Hicks’ frame and preseason flashes give him the baseline physicality to be considered for these roles, but proving it under game speed and in full pads often decides the outcome.

CFL to NFL: Proven Pathways and Cautionary Tales

The Canadian Football League functions as both a showcase and a development platform for players who have yet to secure NFL jobs. Returning to the CFL can provide meaningful game tape, live reps in a professional setting, and an opportunity to refine elements of a player’s skill set that might have been flagged during NFL evaluations.

Success stories of CFL-to-NFL transitions exist. Cameron Wake turned a standout CFL career into a productive NFL run, becoming a Pro Bowl pass rusher. Warren Moon’s dominance in the CFL preceded a Hall of Fame NFL career. More recently, players like Brandon Zylstra parlayed CFL play into NFL opportunities, showing how consistent production north of the border can reopen doors.

CFL stints are not a guaranteed springboard. The leagues differ in field dimensions, motion rules, and defensive structures, so translating success requires adjustments. Hicks’ brief tenure with Edmonton did not result in a roster spot, but it kept him active in football and produced recent film for NFL evaluators. Teams will study that film for route concepts, spacing awareness, and sustained effort.

The wider lesson for fringe NFL players is pragmatic: alternative leagues provide game action that trumps practice-squad reps in the eyes of some scouts. A strong showing in live games highlights durability and competitive instincts in ways practice reps cannot.

The NFC North Angle: Division Rivalries and Familiarity

Hicks auditioning for the Lions presents an intriguing intra-division storyline. Green Bay and Detroit play twice per season, and seeing a former member of your organization lined up against you carries both competitive and strategic implications. On one hand, Hicks’ knowledge of Green Bay’s coaching tendencies, terminology idiosyncrasies and practice-room habits is limited; scheme knowledge lessens quickly between teams and seasons. On the other, familiarity can give defensive coaches small insights into a player’s tendencies or approach to route-running that help game planning.

Division rivals also often feel comfortable signing former opponents, knowing the player has been evaluated by teams that will see them twice yearly. A signing would make Hicks a direct contributor against his former employer in the regular season, adding a narrative element and creating practical matchups for coordinators to evaluate.

For Green Bay, the prospect of a former developmental target moving to Detroit also serves as a reminder that practice-squad and developmental investments can pay dividends for other teams. Clubs must balance the benefit of keeping players in-house with the risk of losing them to rivals who spot an immediate need.

Comparing Hicks to Similar NFL Journeys

Hicks’ story is familiar in the NFL landscape: undrafted college player earns preseason reps, lands on practice squad, gets multiple looks, travels to an alternative league, then returns for another NFL audition. That arc aligns with many players who ultimately carve out roles as depth receivers or special-teams stalwarts.

Players like Adam Thielen and Victor Cruz started with modest entry points and grew into primary contributors, though both are outliers relative to the majority of undrafted receivers. More common are stories of players who find consistent work as third- or fourth-receivers, with roster spots secured by versatility. Those paths demonstrate the range of outcomes and the pivotal role of perseverance, special-teams competence, and timing.

The modern practice-squad system and the expansion of alternative leagues have made the path to the active roster more porous. Teams routinely re-evaluate players they have prior experience with because the learning curve is shorter and the cultural fit is better understood.

What Scouts and Coaches Will Watch for in Camp

Coaches evaluate a roster hopeful through several measurable and observational criteria. For a receiver like Hicks, the checklist typically includes:

• Hands: frequency of drops in live reps and concentration on contested throws.
• Route precision: crispness of breaks, ability to create separation against press and off-man coverage, and timing with quarterbacks.
• Physicality: willingness to block in the run game, absorb contact on contested catches, and sustain physical play on third downs.
• Special-teams acumen: tackling technique on coverage teams, reliability in blocking during returns, and the ability to execute assignment-level responsibilities.
• Football IQ: grasp of the playbook, adjustment to defensive shifts and coverages, and capacity to run the same route-tree in different sets.
• Consistency: performing at a high level across practice days and preseason contests, not just exhibiting flashes.

A player who demonstrates improvement across several of these areas in a condensed period can leapfrog incumbents.

Roster Mechanics and Timing: How Hicks Could Land in Detroit

Timing often dictates roster movement. Teams make decisions based on injuries, performance in early preseason games, and avalanches of tape from training-camp practices. Here are likely scenarios for Hicks in Detroit:

• Short-term camp deal: The Lions sign Hicks to the 90-man roster to see him in full-team practices and preseason games. This creates the clearest path to showing coaches his fit on offense and special teams.
• Practice-squad addition: If Hicks performs adequately in his workout but the Lions prefer other options for the 53-man roster, they may add him to the practice squad to preserve the relationship and call on him if injuries occur.
• Week-to-week depth signing: Injuries to receivers can prompt direct additions to the active roster. If Detroit experiences an injury and Hicks is on the radar, they could elevate him from the practice squad or sign him directly if he’s a free agent.
• No signing: The workout may simply serve as a formality. Teams audition many players during camp without committing to a roster spot, keeping their options open as the preseason progresses.

Waiver rules and veteran-accrued season thresholds will influence what the Lions can do immediately. If Hicks is signed and then released, he will likely clear waivers and be a candidate for practice squads across the league rather than an active-roster claim.

Projecting Outcomes: Realistic Paths for Hicks This Season

Forecasting individual player outcomes is an exercise in probabilities. For Julian Hicks, realistic pathways and rough probabilities—based on his resume, size, and preseason history—look like:

• Practice-squad signing with the Lions: 45% — Detroit cited the No. 5 receiver spot as open, and practice squads are the default mechanism for retaining developmental talent.
• Short-term active-roster contract leading to preseason reps: 30% — The Lions could sign Hicks to the 90-man roster for camp and evaluate him in preseason games.
• No signing from Detroit but interest from another team: 15% — Other clubs with injuries or thin depth may follow the workout reports and make contact.
• Immediate roster cut after audition: 10% — If Hicks fails to demonstrate special-teams aptitude or route-menu reliability in the workout, Detroit could pass.

These probabilities reflect general tendencies for players with similar backgrounds and are not deterministic. Performance in live practices and early preseason matchups will swing outcomes quickly.

Broader Implications for Team Building and Player Development

Hicks’ situation highlights a few broader truths about how NFL teams build depth and how players sustain a professional career. First, development is incremental. Practice squads, offseason programs and short preseason flashes build a case over time. Second, roster spots beyond the top three receivers are won more often through special-teams competence than through offensive snaps. Third, organizations routinely re-audition players they developed previously because familiarity shortens onboarding.

For players, Hicks’ path emphasizes the importance of adaptability. Willingness to play special teams, refine route technique, and accept practice-squad oscillations keeps doors open. For teams, exercising patience with developmental prospects while remaining vigilant to low-cost upgrades from rival practice squads embodies roster pragmatism.

The dynamic also illustrates the value of nontraditional routes back into the NFL. Alternative leagues, once seen primarily as career stops, now function as credible platforms that provide game tape and fresh film for scouts evaluating players mid-career.

Real-World Comparisons: How Similar Stories Played Out

Several players over the past two decades have followed arcs that mirror the trajectory Hicks faces:

• Cameron Wake: After being overlooked by the NFL early in his career, Wake excelled in the CFL and leveraged that success into a long, productive NFL career as a pass rusher. His case demonstrates how sustained production in an alternative league can open NFL doors.
• Adam Thielen: An undrafted free agent who earned a roster spot through special-teams work and consistent preseason performance, Thielen eventually became a primary starter and Pro Bowl receiver. His example shows that the path from practice-squad hopeful to starter exists, though it is rare and requires significant improvement and opportunity.
• Brandon Zylstra: Zylstra moved from CFL production to multiple NFL opportunities, illustrating a middle ground where CFL success can yield NFL depth roles even if it does not produce long-term starting assignments.

These examples span a range of outcomes and reinforce that opportunity, timing and demonstrable improvement in measurable areas determine whether a player transitions from audition to regular contributor.

How Green Bay Might Respond If Hicks Signs with Detroit

Green Bay will monitor Hicks’ status. The Packers know the player intimately from his practice-squad tenure and preseason appearances. If Detroit signs him, Green Bay’s options range from passive observation to strategic countermeasures. Those could include:

• Preparing specific game plans for Hicks in the event Detroit activates him on game days, focusing on his strengths—physical catches and short-yardage contested situations.
• Consideration of similar developmental signings if a player leaves and the Packers feel a positional gap emerges on their own depth chart.
• Using inside knowledge to anticipate Hicks’ tendencies, though the practical impact of this is limited once a player changes teams and adapts to new coaching.

In most cases, a developmental player's movement between division clubs does not trigger drastic roster swings but does increase familiarity that defensive coordinators will catalog.

What Fans Should Expect Over the Next Few Weeks

For Lions fans, the Hicks workout is a line item in a fluid training-camp ledger. The real evaluation will come during preseason games and full-team practices. If he signs, expect incremental coaching chatter about his special-teams snaps and whether he can contribute on third downs or the red zone.

Packers fans can treat the news as a reminder of the developmental pipeline. Hicks’ movement to a division rival will generate curiosity but not immediate alarm. The Packers often turn developing prospects into situational depth; losing one to a rival happens, but it rarely shapes a season in isolation.

Across the league, expect more mid-tier receivers to receive look-ins as teams balance health concerns and competition at the receiver position. The NFL’s short-term roster churn across training camp produces dozens of such auditions annually.

Conclusion Without the Phrase

The Lions’ workout of Julian Hicks reflects roster pragmatism: teams audition low-cost, high-upside options at the margins, particularly where special-teams value can swing the competition. Hicks’ history—two preseason showings, multiple practice-squad stints, and a brief CFL tenure—maps onto a familiar yet precarious path. His size, contested-catch ability and prior development inside the Packers system open a legitimate opportunity. Whether the workout translates into a contract depends on immediate impressions during drills, special-teams competence, and the timing of injuries or cuts across the receiver room.

The coming weeks of camp and preseason games will reveal whether Hicks can convert the tryout into a roster spot, or whether his path will continue through practice squads and alternative leagues in pursuit of an NFL breakthrough.

FAQ

Q: Did the Detroit Lions sign Julian Hicks after the workout?
A: As of the workout report, Detroit has not signed Hicks. The workout indicates interest and a desire to evaluate him in person; a contract could follow depending on camp needs and his performance in drills.

Q: What are Hicks’ chances of making the Lions’ 53-man roster?
A: The most realistic immediate outcome is a practice-squad signing or a camp deal to the 90-man roster. Making the 53-man roster would likely require Hicks to demonstrate above-average special-teams skills and consistent offensive performance during limited reps. Historically, the odds favor practice-squad placement for players with Hicks’ profile, though exceptions occur.

Q: Could Hicks play special teams for the Lions?
A: Yes. Special teams frequently determine roster spots at the back end of the roster. If Hicks can perform reliably on coverage teams and execute blocks on returns, his special-teams value would substantially improve his roster prospects.

Q: How do workouts like this typically affect a player’s career?
A: Workouts provide exposure and an opportunity to display physical condition, hands, and special-teams aptitude. A strong showing can lead to a practice-squad spot or a camp contract, while a weak showing usually results in continued search for other opportunities. The cumulative effect of multiple workouts across teams can keep a player in the league ecosystem.

Q: Has anyone successfully moved from CFL back to the NFL?
A: Yes. There are notable success stories, including Cameron Wake and Warren Moon, each of whom parlayed CFL dominance into sustained NFL careers. Briefer paths like Brandon Zylstra’s demonstrate that CFL play can reopen NFL doors, though outcomes vary widely.

Q: What should Packers fans watch for if Hicks joins the Lions?
A: Packers fans should monitor whether Hicks earns significant offensive snaps or becomes a special-teams contributor. His presence increases the pool of players familiar with Green Bay’s system, but the practical game impact depends on whether Detroit activates him on gamedays.

Q: When will we know if Hicks signs?
A: Training camp and preseason roster moves accelerate through August. If Hicks is to be signed, announcements typically occur within days of a workout or shortly after a preseason game, depending on injuries and positional evaluations.