The Lions head into Week 7 with a mix of good news, a little noise, and one very quiet injury report.
The biggest on-field boost is Brian Branch, who is set to return against the Green Bay Packers without a snap count. For Detroit, that matters a lot.
Branch has been out since last December after a torn Achilles, and his comeback gives the secondary a badly needed piece back at full strength. Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said he wasn’t eager to forecast exactly how Branch will be used.
"I'm not big on giving you projections and 'Oh, he's going to do this, he's going to do that.' It's just beautiful to have (him) back. There are multiple things obviously that player can do to help us, and we'll find the spots that we feel is right and he feels right for him as we progress here."
Cade Mays is also ready to step in, and he’ll do it as the new starter at center with no restrictions. Mays, who missed time after a fractured wrist this summer, is taking over for Juice Scruggs and said the adjustment back to the middle is simple.
"It's like riding a bike. There's obviously stuff to get better at every day," the center said on Thursday.
Mays signed a three-year, $25 million deal to anchor Detroit's o-line, a…
The front office, meanwhile, is still dealing with the fallout from Sam LaPorta’s comments on "Pardon My Take." LaPorta, who is in extension talks with the Lions, opened up about the emotional side of the negotiations and made himself the week’s loudest storyline without meaning to. He said:
"I think the combination of like, getting your heartstrings twisted, as well as the violent sport that we play, you know, it sucks, and it's disappointing that you go out there every week and you bear the risk of getting hurt. You know, like last year, whatever it was, week nine, week 10, you know, I break my f****** back for the team, and them I'm going out there this year and I'm balling and maybe they're just not showing the love,"
He added, "So it sucks. I'm going to continue to be a pro.
And I dish a lot of that to my agent and he handles that great. And in three months, if I don't get to wear the Honolulu blue and play for the Lions anymore, it's going to be all good.
I'll go get paid somewhere else. So whatever,"
LaPorta was not available afterward, but he did address the situation Friday following practice and said he did not want to become a distraction. He also stressed that he wants to stay in Detroit.
"Yeah, I feel bad if there was any sort of distraction to the team, teammates, coaches. But I think there was maybe a bit of a misconception with, I guess -- like my intentions are, I want to play for this team.
I give everything I have. My teammates do as well.
They all love me, respect me, and support me, and they want to see me be happy and compensated."
He also pointed to his family, with another child on the way, as part of why the extension conversation carries extra weight.
The trade deadline is creeping closer, and the Lions still have a clear opening at cornerback. If Keith Abney II stays at safety next to Branch and Chuck Clark, Detroit is still short at the position.
Ennis Rakestraw Jr. has been solid, and Roger McCreary has too, but D.J. Reed has not looked like the starter the Lions need.
That makes this a spot Detroit should attack before the deadline, with Riq Woolen, former Lion Amik Robertson, and Donte Jackson mentioned as names to watch.
At the same time, the Lions do not seem eager to spend recklessly. With LaPorta and Branch both working toward future deals, Detroit looks cautious with its assets even as the wider NFC feels open enough to justify a push.
And for now, the best sign of all may be the simplest one: Detroit enters Week 7 with only Rock Ya-Sin on its injury report. The Packers are getting Josh Jacobs back from the commissioner's exempt list, but their defense has been dealing with health issues.
The contrast is sharp, and it’s hard not to notice how much healthier the Lions look this season than they did a year ago. The offseason changes around training camp and practice volume may be paying off, or maybe Detroit is just catching the breaks for once.
In Other News...
Jared Goff Is Setting The NFC North Standard Right Now
Jared Goff has spent the first six weeks of the season doing exactly what the Lions want from their quarterback: keep the offense on schedule, protect the football and give Detroit a chance to win every Sunday. In a division filled with young talent and big-armed volatility, that steadiness has stood out enough to put him at the top of the NFC North quarterback conversation heading into Week 7.
The case for Goff is built on consistency more than flash, with his passing production and quarterback rating helping him separate from Caleb Williams, Jordan Love and Kyler Murray in the current rankings. The part that may matter most to Detroit, though, is how well he has paired efficiency with ball security, a combination that has become central to the Lions' offensive identity and a big reason he keeps setting the pace in the division. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Face A Costly Sam LaPorta Decision They Can't Delay
The Lions have not hidden their interest in keeping Sam LaPorta around long term, but the road to an extension has grown more complicated as his value keeps climbing. LaPorta, a 2023 second-round pick, has become one of the most important pieces of Detroits offense, and the team is also trying to keep an eye on other business, including a new deal for safety Brian Branch as he works his way back from injury.
For now, the conversation with LaPorta has slowed, with the clock inching toward the point where Detroit has to decide how aggressive it wants to be. Tight end prices across the league are moving up, and if the Lions want to prevent LaPorta from getting anywhere near free agency, they may have to consider a franchise tag that would carry a hefty price tag of its own. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Are Suddenly Tied To A Trade Deadline Gamble Worth Watching
As the trade deadline approaches, Detroit has surfaced in an intriguing idea involving the Chargers and a pair of veteran defenders who could be available if Los Angeles decides to start thinking more about the future. ESPNs Bill Barnwell floated a scenario that would send Khalil Mack and Donte Jackson to the Lions in exchange for 2027 draft picks, a move that would fit the kind of opportunistic approach contending teams often take when a veteran upgrade becomes available.
For Detroit, the appeal is obvious if the price is manageable: adding proven pass-rush help and secondary depth without giving up current-day assets. The wrinkle is how far the Chargers would be willing to go to make the deal happen, including whether they would take on part of the remaining salary to improve the return, which is the kind of detail that can decide whether these deadline ideas stay in the rumor column or become something much more real. [Read more 🡒]