The Detroit Lions have opened the 2026 season 1-1, and the problem isn’t the side of the ball that usually grabs the headlines. The offense has done its job, putting up 31 points in each of the first two weeks. The defense, though, has been a different story entirely.
Detroit gave up 30 points to the New Orleans Saints and then surrendered 41 to the Buffalo Bills. That kind of start has ESPN analyst Dan Graziano sounding the alarm, with the secondary drawing the biggest concern.
"The Lions' defense is going to keep them out of the playoffs again," Graziano writes. "Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION."
That’s a strong call, but the early numbers back up the worry. The Lions have been too easy to throw on, and the damage has come through the air.
Tyler Shough of the Saints lit up Detroit for 410 yards and three touchdowns on 56 attempts. The Lions did snag two interceptions, but the production was still enough to leave New Orleans one two-point try short of a win.
Against Buffalo, Josh Allen didn’t need a monster passing day to make Detroit pay. He finished 20-for-31 for 248 yards, with three passing touchdowns and no turnovers. That’s the kind of efficient outing that exposes a defense that isn’t getting enough stops.
There is some help on the way. Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are out and will miss the next two weeks, but they should return and give the secondary a lift. Even so, it’s hard to ignore how shaky this group has looked through two games.
And while Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Jameson Williams, and Jahmyr Gibbs give the Lions a loaded offensive core, that firepower may not be enough to cover for a defense that has already become a major issue. If Detroit’s season goes off the rails, the secondary looks like the part most likely to do it.
In Other News...
Lions Secondary Issues Are Forcing Detroit To Act Fast
The Lions are trying to stabilize a secondary that has been hit hard early, and that urgency showed up this week at the Allen Park Performance Center. Detroit has allowed 71 points through the first two games, a rough start that has put even more pressure on a defensive back group already dealing with injuries, including safety Avonte Maddox.
Among the players getting workouts are veterans Jordan Fuller and Jalen Mills, both of whom bring NFL experience and familiarity with the league grind. Mills also has a prior connection to Detroit after being claimed off waivers by the Lions in 2025, and the teams decision to bring in that kind of depth suggests it is moving quickly to find answers before the schedule creates even more problems. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Have A Secondary Issue They May Need To Solve Fast
When the Lions get back from their break, the defensive backfield will be worth watching closely. Detroit plans to work out a group of defensive backs, including Jordan Fuller and Jalen Mills, as it continues to sort through both health questions and performance concerns in the secondary. Avonte Maddoxs foot injury is part of the picture, and the team has already been forced to keep an eye on a unit that has needed help at times.
There is at least a path toward relief if the timing breaks right. Safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph remain on the Physically Unable to Perform list, but both may be nearing a return to practice, which could help stabilize a group that has been thinned out. Until then, the Lions may need these workouts to do more than just add bodies, because the back end of the defense has become a spot they may have to solve quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Badly Need Cade Mays Back For This Brutal Stretch
Jared Goff has already spent too much of the early season dealing with heat in the pocket, and it has put a spotlight on a Detroit offensive line that has not looked nearly as steady as the Lions need it to be. The issue becomes even bigger with the schedule turning toward a pair of division tests against the Packers and Vikings, both of whom can make life miserable for a quarterback when they get to the front of the pocket.
Cade Mays absence has been part of that problem, with the starting center still working back from a wrist injury that has kept him sidelined. The bye week offers the Lions a natural reset, and there is at least a chance he could be back by mid-October, which would give Detroit a much-needed reinforcement right when the trenches figures to matter most. [Read more 🡒]