Jahmyr Gibbs has wasted no time becoming the centerpiece of Detroit’s ground game in 2026. Through the opening stretch, he’s piled up 353 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 80 carries, exactly the kind of workload the Lions said they wanted for him.
The strange part is that all that volume hasn’t lifted Detroit’s rushing attack as a whole. The Lions still sit 20th in the league in rushing offense, just one spot better than the Cardinals heading into Week 5. That gap - or lack of one - says plenty about how hard it’s been for Detroit to create clean lanes for Gibbs.
This matchup gives the Lions a real chance to clean that up. Arizona and Detroit sit on opposite sides of the run-defense spectrum, which could make this a useful spot for Gibbs and, depending on how the backfield shakes out, for Tyler Allgeier and Bam Knight as well. If rookie Jeremiyah Love doesn’t see much work, if any, there should be touches to go around.
The blocking numbers suggest a classic tug-of-war: one side trying to open things up, the other trying to slam the door. Detroit has shown more reliability in pass protection than in run blocking, but this is still a young offensive line that came into the year with questions in the run game. Week 5 looks like the kind of matchup where the Lions should be able to sort some of that out.
It would also be a welcome reset after the Carolina game, when Detroit never really got to lean into its preferred script because the Panthers kept choking off the run. Devin Lloyd was all over that game, consistently blowing up plays in the backfield and giving the Lions no easy answers when he shot gaps.
A big reason for optimism is Cade Mays. His return isn’t guaranteed for Week 5, but a Week 7 debut against the Green Bay Packers feels like a sure thing at this point. He’s been practicing this week, and that alone is an encouraging sign for a line that could use the help.
Mays brings real value as a run blocker. He was graded as one of the better run-blocking centers in 2024, and that’s the kind of profile Detroit can use next to Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge. Both guards have started the season well, with Mahogany standing out in particular aside from the one week he missed in Week 2.
Detroit’s run game still hasn’t fully taken off. But with Mays nearing a return, the ingredients are there for that to change soon.
In Other News...
Darius Slay Just Said What Lions Fans Fear About This Secondary
Darius Slay has never been shy about giving his old team an honest evaluation, and his latest comments land at a time when the Lions are still trying to steady a defense that has drawn plenty of scrutiny. The former Detroit cornerback pointed to Carlton Davis as the player he thought fit best in the scheme and said letting him leave in free agency was the clubs biggest recent misstep, a remark that will sound familiar to anyone who has watched the secondary struggle to find consistency.
Slay also took aim at the broader direction of the defense under Kelvin Sheppard, suggesting the issues in the back end go beyond one departure and reflect a need for a different philosophy. He did leave open a sliver of intrigue about his own future, saying he might entertain a return for the right offer, though he made clear he is comfortable with life after football for now. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Pass Defense Problem Could Force A Trade Fans Didn't Expect
Through the first month of the season, the Lions pass defense has been one of the clearest pressure points on the roster, and it has already pushed the front office into the trade market. Detroit has talked with other teams about cornerback Joey Porter Jr., but the search for help could widen if the right deal materializes. One name floating into the conversation is Philadelphia cornerback Riq Woolen, a player with the kind of tools that can change the feel of a secondary in a hurry.
Woolens contract situation and past performance make him an intriguing fit for a team trying to shore up the back end without overcommitting long term. Philadelphias recent roster changes, including the retirement of Lane Johnson and the trade of Cam Jurgens, have also fueled the idea that the Eagles could be willing to keep moving pieces to stockpile future draft capital. For the Lions, the question is whether a move like that is realistic, and whether solving the pass-defense issue will require a swing more aggressive than the one fans expected. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Secondary Problem Is Fueling A Trade Fans Will Want
The Lions search for help in the back end keeps circling back to the trade market, and Kristian Fulton has become one of the more interesting names attached to it. Detroit has already come up short on other cornerback targets, including Joey Porter Jr., which has only sharpened the focus on a defense that could use more stability on the outside. Fultons situation in Kansas City makes him a logical candidate to watch, especially with the kind of midseason deal that can sometimes benefit both teams.
Jeremy Fowler reported that Fulton is not currently a full-time starter for the Chiefs, and that matters for a Detroit team looking for a player who can step in without forcing a massive overhaul. A trade could come together if the teams are willing to split his salary, which gives the Lions a possible path forward if they decide to keep pressing for help. For a secondary still trying to find the right fit, this is the sort of move that can gain momentum quickly if the price is right. [Read more 🡒]