The Lions didn’t land Joey Porter Jr., but the secondary still has reinforcements on the horizon.
Detroit was among the teams interested in trading for the cornerback this season as injuries piled up in the defensive backfield, Dan Campbell confirmed. The Dallas Cowboys wound up getting the deal done, sending the Pittsburgh Steelers a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 conditional sixth-round pick.
Even with Porter headed elsewhere, the Lions are expecting a key return soon. During Tom Pelissero’s edition of "The Sweep" on Saturday, Pelissero said Detroit should have defensive back Brian Branch back at practice next week. Branch has been out since suffering a torn Achilles on Dec. 4, but Campbell said Friday that he was close to returning and had been working hard to get back on the field.
Branch has been a major piece for Detroit. Campbell has called him the "heartbeat" of the defense, and the numbers back up how much the Lions have missed him. A second-round pick in the 2023 draft, Branch posted 48 tackles and one forced fumble in 12 games last season.
That return would come at a good time for a defense that has already allowed 85 points in the first three weeks of the season. Detroit is still hunting for ways to improve the secondary, too.
Campbell made that clear Friday when he said, “Just like any year, it’s non-stop,” Campbell said on Friday. “Brad’s constantly looking to upgrade this roster at every position.
If we can find somebody that we feel like fits us and can help us and the value is right, we will.”
The Lions enter Week 4 at 2-1 and are set for a road matchup with the Carolina Panthers on "Sunday Night Football."
Carolina is dealing with injury issues of its own. Receivers Xavier Lagette and Jalen Coker are both on the report, with Lagette out because of a knee injury and Coker questionable with a quad injury. Rookie wide receiver Chris Brazzell II is out for the season after tearing his LCL in training camp.
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 🡒]