Calvin Johnson didn’t hold back when the conversation turned to how teams spend around the NFL trade deadline.
During a recent appearance on the “Chasing No. 1” podcast, which features Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, the Hall of Fame wideout brought up the Lions and the way Detroit handled its roster when Matthew Stafford was still the quarterback. With the deadline approaching, Lions fans are once again pushing for the team to make a splash and add proven talent.
“The biggest thing for me is that, I used to always say, we tell everybody we got the team here in Detroit,” said Johnson. “We had the dudes, but you can’t win a Super Bowl on a budget, man.
You got to go all in. You got to go all in.
That’s what you see teams do. They go all-in and get that one piece or two pieces that they’re missing, to get them all the way there over the last couple seasons.”
Johnson pointed back to the Stafford era as the clearest example of what he meant. The Rams made the aggressive move in 2020, sending the Lions two first-round draft picks to land the former No. 1 overall pick. Stafford then won the Lombardi Trophy in his first season out of Detroit.
For Johnson, that outcome only sharpened his view of what the Lions had at the time.
“We had most of the pieces there in Detroit,” Johnson noted. “And so for me, when he won Super Bowl, literally the first year after he left Detroit, I’m out there like, ‘I mean, I told y’all what we had.’”
That sentiment lands at a time when Detroit’s front office is again being tied to the market. A recent ESPN report said general manager Brad Holmes has been checking on available cornerbacks, and the Lions may not be alone in that pursuit. The Bears are also said to be looking at the same group of defenders.
“The Bears made their big move for Jeffery Simmons, but they’re still poking around on potentially available cornerbacks, as are the Lions,” Graziano wrote earlier this week. “Detroit might also be in the market for help at linebacker, particularly in the wake of the terrible injury to mainstay Jack Campbell.”
In Other News...
Lions Defense Is Already Feeling Jack Campbells Absence
Jack Campbells neck injury has left the Lions dealing with more than just a lineup hole. The linebacker remains hospitalized, but there has been encouraging progress in his movement, and the team has had to start adjusting to the reality of moving forward without one of its most important defensive pieces. Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard addressed that challenge directly, telling the group to honor Campbell through the way they prepare and play.
The emotional reach of the injury has stretched beyond Detroit, too, with Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley offering support for Campbell and the Lions. For a defense that leans on Campbells presence and steadiness, the immediate task is as much about keeping the unit grounded as it is about filling snaps. The Lions now have to manage the football side of the absence while carrying the human side of it, which is never easy in a week like this. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Could Get A Needed Linebacker Boost Sooner Than Expected
The Lions have spent the past few weeks piecing together their linebacker group after a run of injuries forced them to shuffle the lineup and lean on the practice squad. Devin White, who has been out since breaking his right forearm, has been one of the names circled as a possible boost, and his return would give Detroit another experienced body at a position that has needed constant adjustment.
White has said he feels good about where his recovery stands, and the next checkpoint should provide a clearer picture of how close he is to getting back on the field. For a defense that has had to keep patching holes, even the possibility of adding him back into the mix this month is a welcome development. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Face A Tough Reality In Miami Despite Their Winning Streak
The Lions head into Week 9 with momentum from a three-game winning streak, but the trip to Miami comes with a clear dose of caution. Detroit has been dealing with multiple injuries on defense, and that reality is shaping how this matchup is being viewed as the team tries to keep its run going against a Dolphins offense that can stress a defense in a hurry.
The betting market has already reflected some of that concern, with the total climbing even as the spread has stayed put. It points to a game that could stay tight and carry more scoring than usual, but for Detroit the bigger question is whether a battered defense can hold up long enough to let the winning streak survive another week. [Read more 🡒]