The Detroit Lions are still hunting for help in the secondary, and Brad Holmes has been active after the team’s rough outing against the Buffalo Bills.
One name that has come up recently is veteran cornerback Kenny Moore. According to NFL media, Detroit has called about him as it looks for ways to upgrade the defense.
That interest comes as a few other cornerback names have gotten more attention, especially Joey Porter Jr. But the Lions may be eyeing a less expensive route.
Porter is reportedly seeking more than $30 million per year on a contract extension. He has not played yet this season, though there are multiple reports that he could make his debut next week in Week 3.
The Lions’ push to reinforce the defense also comes with early-season issues showing up in obvious places. One of the biggest has been the pass rush when Kelvin Sheppard sends extra pressure. Josh Allen repeatedly handled the blitz in the loss to Buffalo, and the Saints had similar success after adjusting in Week 1.
Earlier this month, Sheppard addressed why he felt more comfortable dialing up blitzes this season.
"No, we blitzed last year. There were a lot of things you guys saw, that you turned on the tape last year that we did.
It just probably wasn't at the rate that we did it at, but there is no new complex stuff happening," said Sheppard. "All this stuff is just a matter, and also it comes in play.
It's a time and place for it. Who's the opponent?
What does that quarterback look like? Do you think we should go that route this week?
Is that's what best for the football team, not for the defense, for the football team?
"Talking about playing complementary football going into year two, that's probably something that I understand more than anything ever because of the man that stands to my right and that's Dan Campbell. Situational football, complementary football is something we worked this offseason more than ever.”
In Other News...
Caleb Williams Injury Could Open A Huge Door For The Lions
Caleb Williams leaving Sundays game with a hamstring injury changed the feel of the NFC North race in a hurry, and it matters directly to Detroit. The Bears rookie quarterback did not return against Minnesota, forcing Tyson Bagent into the lineup at a time when Chicago was already staring at a difficult stretch on the schedule and trying to keep pace in a division that has little margin for error.
For the Lions, it adds another layer to a race that already looked tight, with Chicago at 1-1 and the Vikings out front at 2-0. Detroit knows how quickly a division can swing on one injury, and if Williams status lingers, the Bears may have to navigate some early-season pressure without the player they built the offense around. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Defense May Force Dan Campbell Into Another Tough Change
Dan Campbell has never been shy about making a hard call when the Lions need one, and this season has already brought another round of coaching adjustments around him. After Aaron Glenn left following the 2024 season, Kelvin Sheppard was elevated to defensive coordinator, but Detroits defense has not settled in the way the team hoped, leaving the staff structure under fresh scrutiny as the season moves along.
The bigger question now is whether Campbell keeps trying to fix the issue from within or decides another change is necessary to get the defense pointed in the right direction. There are a few defensive coaches with coordinator experience who could fit the opening if Detroit chooses to look outside its current setup, and the Lions next move could say as much about the urgency around this unit as anything on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Fans Still Have One Reason For Hope After This Start
Through two games of the 2026 season, the concern around Detroit has been pretty straightforward: the defense has not given this team much room for error. But there is still enough in the offensive structure to keep the Lions from feeling flatlined, and that starts with the way the group is being put together by offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. The designs have helped keep the rhythm moving, and the red zone work has been a reminder that this unit can still turn drives into points.
Jahmyr Gibbs, Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta continue to give Detroit a dependable core when the offense needs a response. If the defense is going to spend this start making life difficult, the Lions at least have an attack that can keep them in games and make each week feel salvageable. For now, that scoring ability remains the clearest reason there is still some optimism around a team that has already faced more early pressure than it wanted. [Read more 🡒]