Kelvin Sheppard wants more from the Lions’ defense, and he wants it fast.
Ahead of Week 4 against the Carolina Panthers, Detroit’s defensive coordinator made it clear that the progress he saw against the Jets still doesn’t meet the bar. Pride of Detroit’s Jeremy Reisman reported Sheppard’s message from Thursday:
Kelvin Sheppard says there was a lot of improvement from Jets game.
Run defense was much better, and they decreased explosive plays allowed from 11.5 per game to 7.
But says that's not good enough for the standard, and they need to still improve (cut explosives by half again)
- Jeremy Reisman (@DetroitOnLion) October 1, 2026
That last part is the kicker. Detroit trimmed the big plays, but Sheppard still wants them cut in half again. The problem is that Sunday night’s opponent doesn’t make that kind of demand sound realistic.
Carolina enters the week with the NFL’s top passing offense, averaging 295.7 passing yards per game. Even if Jalen Coker is unavailable - he did practice some on Thursday ahead of Sunday night’s game - the Panthers still present a serious aerial challenge for a Lions secondary that is still being sorted out.
And that’s where this gets messy for Detroit. The Lions may lean more on Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in this one after rough stretches from Rock Ya-Sin at CB2 and a shaky start from D.J.
Reed. It’s a lot to ask Rakestraw to suddenly become the answer, but the Lions are running out of alternatives after missing out on Joey Porter Jr.
The numbers back up the concern. Detroit’s two starting corners sit near the bottom in the EPA per target versus DVOA allowed chart, and Reed has been especially hard to watch - he’s allowing the most EPA per game in the NFL. For a player who was supposed to be the steadiest piece in that group, that’s a brutal early-season development.
The matchup also looks different from what Detroit saw against the Jets. Geno Smith can still throw it around, but the Panthers bring a much more dangerous passing attack than New York did in Week 3. That puts even more pressure on a secondary that is still searching for answers.
If the Lions are going to get anywhere near Sheppard’s target of cutting explosives in half again, the pass rush may have to carry the day. Getting after Bryce Young and forcing him off his spot could help buy time for a secondary that figures to be tested all night by Carolina’s receivers.
In Other News...
Dan Campbell Hinted At Big Lions Roster Decisions Before Carolina
With a short week leading into Carolina, Dan Campbell spent part of his pregame update signaling that the Lions still have some roster chess to play. Detroit is in trade talks for Joey Porter Jr., while safety Brian Branch is nearing a return to practice, and Campbell also made clear that he remains confident in linebacker Jack Campbell even after a slow start to the season. The message was less about the headlines than the direction: the Lions are still sorting out how their defense wants to look as the schedule tightens.
The immediate assignment, though, is straightforward enough. Detroit is focused on keeping Bryce Young from settling in, and Campbell said the biggest defensive concern beyond that is handling tight ends in the middle of the field. He also raised the possibility of rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder getting defensive snaps, a reminder that the Lions may not be done adjusting the group as they balance short-term needs with longer-term decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Branch Return Timeline Just Got A Lot More Interesting
Brian Branchs path back to the field is starting to come into focus, and that matters for a Lions defense that has had to wait out one of its most important young pieces. The safety is close to returning from the Achilles injury he suffered last season, according to Dan Campbell, after beginning the year on the Physically Unable to Perform list. If the timeline holds, Branch is expected to be eligible to return to practice next week, a first step toward getting him back in the mix.
What happens after that will be the part Detroit is watching most closely. The Lions would then have the 21-day window to work through before deciding on activation, and Kelvin Sheppards recent comments about the defense and its preparation only add to the sense that the unit is bracing for a potentially meaningful addition. For a team trying to keep its defensive rhythm intact, Branchs return would be one of the more notable developments on the horizon. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Could Have Tough Trade Calls If Young Talent Keeps Rising
The Lions are heading toward the trade deadline in an unusual spot for a team still trying to build something lasting: they are expected to be buyers, but they also have to keep sorting through which veterans and depth pieces fit the roster long term. As Detroit evaluates its options, cornerback Amani Oruwariye, defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike and offensive lineman Logan Stenberg have surfaced as names to watch, especially if the front office decides a roster spot or draft asset can be better used elsewhere.
What makes the calculus trickier is that the answer may not be about those players alone. The Lions also have to factor in how younger talent is coming along and whether injuries create new pressure points before the deadline arrives. If those developments keep breaking the right way, Detroit could find itself making some difficult calls on useful pieces rather than simply adding help. [Read more 🡒]