The Lions are heading into Week 4 in Carolina with a chance to stack a second straight win, and Sunday night also gives a few Detroit defenders a chance to clean things up.
Three players, in particular, need sharper showings against the Panthers: Jack Campbell, Terrion Arnold Reed, and Derrick Barnes Rodriguez. Each has flashed enough talent to matter, but none has hit the level Detroit needs so far.
Campbell’s start to the 2026 season has been rough. He has not looked anything like the Pro Bowl-caliber linebacker Detroit got a year ago, and the numbers back that up.
Through three games, he owns a 44.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranks 61st out of 67 qualified linebackers. Coverage has been the biggest issue.
Opponents have posted a 149.4 passer rating when throwing at him.
That’s not the kind of production the Lions can live with if they want this defense to settle in. Campbell will have his hands full with Bryce Young and a Panthers offense that ranks fifth, but a strong night from him would matter a lot for Detroit.
Reed also draws a tough assignment, though Carolina’s receiver room is banged up. Xavier Legette, the Panthers’ No. 3 receiver, has already been ruled out.
Jalen Coker, who leads the team with 222 receiving yards and two touchdowns, is questionable because of a quad injury. If Coker can’t go, Tetairoa McMillan would become the clear focal point for Reed and the Lions’ secondary.
So far, Reed has not played like a shutdown corner. He has allowed a 131.9 passer rating on throws into his coverage, which ranks 85th among 97 qualified cornerbacks, and he has given up 20.3 yards per reception, good for 92nd among qualified corners.
He has also surrendered 10 catches, while still sitting at zero interceptions and one pass defensed. His 60.5 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus ranks 45th among qualified corners.
Detroit needs much more from him, and not just on Sunday. The secondary needs Reed to look like a true No. 1 corner moving forward.
Rodriguez is in a different spot, but the opportunity is there. Through the first three weeks, he has played just 54 total snaps and made seven tackles. A strong performance against Carolina could help him earn more work in Kelvin Sheppard’s defense.
That linebacker group as a whole needs more production, and Rodriguez could be part of the answer if he takes advantage of the chance in Week 4.
In Other News...
Panthers Hit With New NFL Discipline Right Before Lions Game
The Panthers are dealing with a little added noise before their matchup with the Lions, as the NFL handed down fines to three Carolina players for penalties committed in Week 3 against Cleveland. A.J. Dillon was fined for a facemask, Lee Hunter for unsportsmanlike conduct tied to taunting, and Thomas Incoom for unnecessary roughness involving helmet use.
None of the three was suspended, so Carolina will still have its full group available when it lines up against Detroit. Even so, the discipline serves as a reminder that the league is watching closely, and the Lions will face a Panthers team trying to keep its edge without letting the extra attention spill into Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Face A Sam LaPorta Question They Couldn't Settle
The Lions and Sam LaPorta have hit pause on contract-extension talks after several weeks of negotiations failed to produce a deal, a familiar sort of detour for a franchise that has not shied away from working on its own timeline. LaPortas side decided to step back for now so the tight end can stay focused on the season, leaving open the possibility that the conversation picks up again once the games are over.
For Detroit, the situation turns one of its most important young pieces into an offseason question again, even if the door is not closed. The team has a history of handling contracts during the season, and it would not be a surprise if it tries again to keep LaPorta in place long term, especially with the chance that any agreement could land him among the leagues highest-paid tight ends. [Read more 🡒]
Isaac TeSlaa Has A Real Chance To Build On Last Week
Isaac TeSlaa finally gave the Lions a glimpse of what he can add to the passing game last week, finishing with four catches for 66 yards against the Jets. For a second-year receiver still trying to carve out a steadier role, it was the kind of outing that can change how a coaching staff looks at the depth chart from one week to the next.
The next opportunity looks even more inviting against Carolina, which has already lost two starting cornerbacks to injured reserve. With Detroit likely looking to keep feeding TeSlaa after his uptick in involvement, betting analyst Drew Ellis is expecting him to top his receiving total from last week, a sign that this might be more than a one-game spike for a young player trying to force his way into the offense. [Read more 🡒]