Detroit’s defense is under the microscope again, and one idea fans keep pushing is a midseason addition of a senior defensive assistant. Dan Campbell says that’s not on the table right now.
“Not at this moment, no I have not,” Campbell said Wednesday.
That doesn’t mean the conversation is closed. Campbell pointed to next week’s bye as a natural pause to step back and look at everything with a little more clarity.
“Look, we’ve got another game here, and then I’m going to have a bye to be able to sit down for a minute, and not drink out of a fire hydrant,” Campbell said. “And that’ll help just a tic.”
The idea of adding help on the defensive side isn’t some magical fix, but there is at least one recent example of it making a real difference. In 2024, the Baltimore Ravens were scuffling under second-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr when they brought in Dean Pees as a senior advisor in early October.
The results changed fast. Baltimore was giving up 25.2 points per game through five weeks, then allowed just 19.6 per game after Pees arrived.
For now, the Lions have one more test before that bye week arrives. They go to Arizona to face a Cardinals offense that ranks 17th in points scored, 31st in yards per play and 17th in EPA/play.
Detroit’s defense has been even worse by the numbers, sitting 31st in points allowed, 29th in yards per play and 32nd in EPA/play. If that unit can’t slow Arizona down, the bye could bring more than just a breather.
In Other News...
Darius Slay Just Said What Lions Fans Fear About This Secondary
Darius Slay has never been shy about giving his old team an honest evaluation, and his latest comments land at a time when the Lions are still trying to steady a defense that has drawn plenty of scrutiny. The former Detroit cornerback pointed to Carlton Davis as the player he thought fit best in the scheme and said letting him leave in free agency was the clubs biggest recent misstep, a remark that will sound familiar to anyone who has watched the secondary struggle to find consistency.
Slay also took aim at the broader direction of the defense under Kelvin Sheppard, suggesting the issues in the back end go beyond one departure and reflect a need for a different philosophy. He did leave open a sliver of intrigue about his own future, saying he might entertain a return for the right offer, though he made clear he is comfortable with life after football for now. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Pass Defense Problem Could Force A Trade Fans Didn't Expect
Through the first month of the season, the Lions pass defense has been one of the clearest pressure points on the roster, and it has already pushed the front office into the trade market. Detroit has talked with other teams about cornerback Joey Porter Jr., but the search for help could widen if the right deal materializes. One name floating into the conversation is Philadelphia cornerback Riq Woolen, a player with the kind of tools that can change the feel of a secondary in a hurry.
Woolens contract situation and past performance make him an intriguing fit for a team trying to shore up the back end without overcommitting long term. Philadelphias recent roster changes, including the retirement of Lane Johnson and the trade of Cam Jurgens, have also fueled the idea that the Eagles could be willing to keep moving pieces to stockpile future draft capital. For the Lions, the question is whether a move like that is realistic, and whether solving the pass-defense issue will require a swing more aggressive than the one fans expected. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Secondary Problem Is Fueling A Trade Fans Will Want
The Lions search for help in the back end keeps circling back to the trade market, and Kristian Fulton has become one of the more interesting names attached to it. Detroit has already come up short on other cornerback targets, including Joey Porter Jr., which has only sharpened the focus on a defense that could use more stability on the outside. Fultons situation in Kansas City makes him a logical candidate to watch, especially with the kind of midseason deal that can sometimes benefit both teams.
Jeremy Fowler reported that Fulton is not currently a full-time starter for the Chiefs, and that matters for a Detroit team looking for a player who can step in without forcing a massive overhaul. A trade could come together if the teams are willing to split his salary, which gives the Lions a possible path forward if they decide to keep pressing for help. For a secondary still trying to find the right fit, this is the sort of move that can gain momentum quickly if the price is right. [Read more 🡒]