Jared Goff’s ironman streak will keep rolling in Week 5, but the Lions’ bigger problem sits one snap away.
When Detroit faces the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Goff will make his 74th straight regular season start and his 78th straight start including the playoffs. That’s the second-longest active run by a quarterback in the NFL, trailing only Josh Allen. It’s an impressive stretch, and it also throws a harsh light on what comes next if Goff ever has to miss time.
Because behind him, the Lions have not built a reliable safety net.
The drop from Goff to Josh Dobbs is about as steep as it gets from starter to backup, and Detroit has spent the early part of the season looking vulnerable in exactly the kind of spot contenders can’t afford to ignore. Goff has been better protected than he was last year, but that only goes so far.
One bad hit, one ugly landing, one awkward play is enough to change the whole equation. If Goff sits, those games can already be penciled into the loss column.
That’s why the backup quarterback issue still hangs over Brad Holmes and the front office. Holmes talked a few offseasons ago about putting more emphasis on the No. 2 quarterback spot, but that answer is still waiting to show up.
Sunday’s matchup brings that conversation right back to the surface, because Jacoby Brissett is suddenly on the board as a name the Lions should care about.
Brissett has already shown he can operate in offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s system. He was productive in Arizona last season, and through four games this year he has posted over 275 passing yards or multiple passing touchdowns three times, and both in one game. With the Cardinals sitting at 1-3, his hold on the starting job could become a real question soon, especially if the losses keep piling up and rookie Carson Beck is waiting in the wings.
That makes Brissett a player to watch not just for Arizona, but for anyone in need of a quarterback upgrade. The Cardinals could have a trade asset on their hands, and Detroit should be near the front of the line. Brissett will be on the other sideline Sunday, facing a Lions pass defense that has been, in the source’s words, an insult to the word awful.
Some changes appear to be coming for Detroit this week, and they should. But until that group proves otherwise, the defense’s makeover feels more like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
That’s what makes this game more than just a matchup on the schedule. It’s also an audition.
Brissett gets another chance to show what he can do in Petzing’s offense, and the Lions get a close look at a quarterback who ought to have been on their backup radar months ago. The complication, of course, is that the opponent’s defense is so shaky that any evaluation has to be taken with some caution.
Still, the larger point doesn’t change. Detroit’s interest in improving behind Goff should not depend on how messy Sunday gets. Brissett may be making his case for Arizona, but he’s also making one for the Lions.
In Other News...
Lions Make A Quiet D-Line Move That Could Matter Fast
Detroit added another body to its defensive line mix with a practice-squad signing that fits the kind of low-key move teams make when they want more options without making a splash. Jeffrey MBa has been around the leagues International Pathways Program and spent time on the Washington Commanders practice squad, giving the Lions a developmental depth piece as they continue sorting through the line rotation.
The timing is what makes it worth watching. Detroit has leaned on the front to steady things when other parts of the defense have been less reliable, and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has already pointed to the lines strong play despite those issues elsewhere. With the group still absorbing new wrinkles and juggling availability, a practice-squad addition can become relevant faster here than it would elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Branch's Status Just Got Bigger For Detroit's Secondary
Brian Branchs recovery has become one of the quieter but more important storylines around Detroits defense, especially with the Lions trying to settle in before the schedule turns to division play. Dan Campbell made it clear the safety is still working his way back from an Achilles injury, and Kelvin Sheppard has already signaled how eager the staff is to plug him back into the mix once he is medically cleared.
For a secondary that has had to keep piecing things together, Branch is the kind of player whose return can change the conversation fast. The current expectation is that his first game back will come after the Week 6 bye, which lines up with Detroit heading into Week 7 and the stretch that really starts to matter in the NFC North. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Could Need More From A Rookie As D-Line Depth Gets Tested
Detroits defensive line may be headed for a little more shuffling as the Lions work through the early part of the season. Tyliek Williams is dealing with a foot issue, and the team has reason to be careful with how it handles the rotation up front. That has opened the door for rookie Sykler Gill-Howard, who turned heads in training camp and the preseason with his work on defense before settling into a different kind of role once the games started.
Gill-Howard has mainly shown up on offense in the regular season, where his physical style has helped in short-yardage situations. Now the Lions may need that same versatility in another spot if they want to keep their line fresh and maintain some flexibility in how they deploy their front. For a team that likes to mix and match, getting more out of a rookie who can help in multiple ways would be a useful answer while the depth chart sorts itself out. [Read more 🡒]