The Detroit Lions head into Sunday morning’s matchup with the New England Patriots in Munich, Germany, carrying more than just the usual game-day pressure. With the regular season moving into a critical stretch, Detroit needs dependable play on both sides of the ball, and a few names stand out as players who have to answer the bell.
One of them is Ennis Rakestraw. With D.J.
Reed sidelined again because of a hip injury, the Lions need Rakestraw to look like the corner they believed they were getting when they selected him in the second round in 2024. That version of him has been hard to find for much of his career.
His first start came in Week 7 against the Packers, and the results were uneven: three catches allowed on four targets, a 106.3 passer rating against, a 64.9 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus and a 65.2 overall mark. Since then, the production has been mixed, and the Lions need a much stronger showing against Drake Maye and the Patriots’ passing game.
Interior line play brings another key test, this one for Trystan Scruggs. He’ll start again in place of Cade Mays in Week 10, and so far he has held up well in that role.
Scruggs has posted a 75.3 overall grade from PFF this season, which ranks second among all qualified centers, a group of 36 players. That’s a strong body of work, but Sunday will be a tougher assignment with Christian Barmore and Milton Williams lining up across from him.
Even so, based on what he has shown in 2026, Scruggs looks ready for it.
Then there’s Isaac TeSlaa, whose season has not matched the expectations that followed him into the year. A lot of fans and observers expected the second-year receiver to take a step forward in 2026, but that hasn’t happened through nine weeks.
Over the last four games, he hasn’t had more than one catch in any of them, and he’s seen no more than two targets in each of those contests. That kind of usage says plenty about where things stand with Jared Goff and the Lions’ trust in the 24-year-old.
Goff hasn’t thrown for more than 176 yards in either of the past two weeks, so if TeSlaa can become more dependable, it could help unlock more of the passing game against New England and beyond.
In Other News...
Dan Campbell Had Lions Fans Cracking Up Before Patriots Clash
Dan Campbell brought a little extra personality to the Lions' week in Munich before the matchup with the Patriots, turning a routine press conference into a reminder of why he remains one of the league's most entertaining coaches. Asked about the trip, Campbell leaned into the setting with a self-aware take on his limited German and even poked fun at his own efforts to pick up a few words along the way.
He also said he planned to try German beer during the visit, which only added to the light tone around a Lions team trying to stay loose while handling the business of an overseas game. Campbell has never been shy about mixing humor with his message, and this stop in Germany gave him another chance to do it in front of a crowd that seemed to enjoy every bit of it. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Head To Germany With Amon-Ra Uncertainty Hanging Over Offense
Amon-Ra St. Browns status has become the biggest offensive question hanging over the Lions as they head to Germany for their latest international stage. The receiver is listed as questionable because of a rib injury, though he did take part in practice on a limited basis and still sounded eager for the chance to play overseas.
Sione Vaki is in a similar spot after being listed as questionable and working in a limited role, while the Lions will be without D.J. Reed, Cade Mays and Kerby Joseph after all three were ruled out and did not travel with the team. For a roster already dealing with uncertainty, the trip adds another layer of intrigue around how Detroit will line up once the game gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Still Waiting On Kerby Joseph As Defensive Pressure Builds
Kerby Joseph is staying back in Detroit for the Lions trip to Munich, but the expectation around the building is still that his return is coming soon. Dan Campbell said the safety is progressing well and has avoided any setbacks, which keeps him on track to be added to the active roster before Wednesdays cutoff tied to his 21-day practice window. For a defense that has had to manage injuries and shuffle pieces, getting Joseph back would be a welcome boost.
The Lions have leaned on other contributors to keep things moving, with Juice Scruggs and Christian Mahogany among the players helping absorb the strain on the roster. Even so, Josephs absence remains a notable one because of what he brings to the secondary and the pressure Detroit is trying to handle on that side of the ball. The next step is simply getting him through the final stretch of the activation process, and the team is still waiting to see that part play out. [Read more 🡒]