The Detroit Lions have trimmed their Week 3 group down for Sunday’s matchup with the New York Jets at Ford Field, and the inactive list includes a mix of expected absences and a few names worth noting.
Safety Thomas Harper and offensive lineman Ben Bartch were already ruled out before kickoff. On the other side of that ledger, offensive linemen Christian Mahogany and Blake Miller are back after missing the game against the Bills.
Also inactive for Detroit are defensive back Bishop Fitzgerald, defensive end Ahmed Hassanein, tight end Tyler Conklin, linebacker Devin White and defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo.
The Lions enter the game with plenty of familiarity on the other sideline. Jets head coach Aaron Glenn spent four seasons as Detroit’s defensive coordinator, and Dan Campbell made it clear he isn’t worried about his team treating this like any ordinary opponent.
“Obviously have a pretty good idea about this opponent, their style, what they're about. Got a tremendous amount of respect for (Aaron Glenn) AG, somebody very close to me and I know what he's about," said Campbell.
"This is not the same team as it was last year. It was about building it from the ground up and they're in year two.
They're much more talented. They play hard.
They have an identity. They play a physical brand of football.
They want to possess the ball, play smash mouth defense and offense. They're going to commit to the run and then hit some shots, try to launch some of these shots.
Good special teams unit. And so, we’ve got our hands full."
The Jets come in after a loss to the Packers, a game in which they let a 10-point fourth-quarter lead slip away before it went to overtime. Glenn has taken some heat for how that finish played out.
"There's an argument they should be 2-0 right now. That thing went down to the wire there last week and the elements.
And so, we have a good idea of what's coming in here and what we need to be ready for," said Campbell. "But, we're ready to embrace this challenge and looking forward to it."
In Other News...
Isaac TeSlaa May Be Giving The Lions Offense Something New
Isaac TeSlaas Week 3 breakout against the New York Jets gave the Lions another encouraging look at what their passing game can become when the opportunities arrive. He caught all three of his targets for 66 yards, and his work on crucial fourth-down plays and on the long grab that helped set up the game-winning score stood out in a game Detroit needed to finish strong after another uneven start.
What made TeSlaas night matter beyond the box score was the way he described his role. He pointed to the value of blocking and helping create chances for teammates, which fits a Lions offense that has often needed more consistency early in games before finding its rhythm later. If TeSlaa can keep adding that kind of versatility, Detroit may have found another piece that helps smooth out those slow starts. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Ended Up On The Wrong Side Of A Stafford Milestone
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It came in a game against the Denver Broncos, where Stafford threw for 390 yards while crossing into rarefied territory again. For Lions fans, it is another reminder of how much of his rsum was built in Detroit, and how his work there still sits alongside what he has done since moving on. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Just Caught A Break Before A Favorable Week 4 Matchup
Jaycee Horns injury gives the Lions a little extra room to breathe heading into their Week 4 trip to Carolina. The Panthers cornerback suffered a torn quad in Week 3 and is expected to be out indefinitely, with injured reserve now a possibility, a tough blow for a pass defense that had been one of Carolinas best early-season strengths.
For Detroit, the timing matters because this matchup was already lining up as one it could attack through the air. Losing Horn changes the look of the Panthers secondary and could force Carolina to adjust on the fly, which is exactly the kind of wrinkle an offense wants to see before a road game. The Lions will still have to handle a defense that has played well overall, but the absence opens a clearer path than they were facing a week ago. [Read more 🡒]