The Detroit Lions left Buffalo with more than a 41-31 loss to absorb. They also have a safety situation that could get even thinner, depending on what comes next for Avonte Maddox.
Maddox went down early in the second quarter after taking a shot from teammate Chuck Clark. The Lions initially labeled it a foot injury and listed him as questionable, but he was ruled out before the second half began. By the time the game was over, he was in the locker room on crutches.
That sight alone does not settle the matter. Crutches can be precautionary, and not every player using them is headed for a long absence. Still, Dan Campbell did not sound encouraged when asked about Maddox’s condition.
“I don’t know. Maddox is pretty tough, so when he doesn’t come back, that makes me nervous,” Campbell said. “But I won’t know until tomorrow for sure.”
Detroit is already juggling major issues at safety. Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch both opened the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which means each must miss at least two more games. Both are now eligible to return to practice, and there is at least some optimism that one could be back sooner rather than later.
Even so, the depth chart is tight. On the 53-man roster, the Lions have only two other pure safeties besides Maddox: Chuck Clark and Thomas Harper. Christian Izien is another possibility, but Detroit has recently moved him into a bigger role as the team’s primary nickel cornerback.
If Maddox’s injury turns out to be significant, the Lions could look to the practice squad for help. One option is defensive back Nick Whiteside, who has mainly played outside cornerback but did get some late safety reps in training camp and handled them reasonably well.
In Other News...
Lions Got Caught In Buffalo's Big Night For One Clear Reason
The Lions found themselves on the wrong end of Buffalos first night at the new Highmark Stadium, a 41-31 Bills win that felt as much like a franchise celebration as a regular-season opener. The pregame and in-game scene had the full Buffalo treatment, from live mascots to Bills Mafia table-breaking and a performance by the Barenaked Ladies singing O Canada, all of it building a loud, charged backdrop for a team eager to christen its new home the right way.
Josh Allen made sure the occasion belonged to Buffalo on the field, too, with five total touchdowns powering the Bills past Detroit. For the Lions, it was the kind of game where the atmosphere, the opponent and the stakes all seemed to point in one direction, and Buffalo seized the moment from the opening emotions of the night. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Window Suddenly Looks Tied To One Brad Holmes Problem
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Detroits recent struggles have made the issue harder to ignore because the team is now feeling the weight of misses, setbacks and unavailable players from those newer groups. A roster that once looked stocked with homegrown help has had to lean more heavily on the same core names, and that is a tougher way to survive when the competition tightens. The bigger question hanging over the Lions is whether the next wave of draft talent can still restore some balance before the window gets any harder to hold open. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Fans Finally Have An Update After That Brutal DJ Moore Injury
There was a collective exhale after DJ Moore went down against the Lions, because any shoulder injury to a top pass-catcher can look worse in real time than it does once the cameras pull back. The Bills wide receiver was checked out after the hit, and the early read is encouraging for Buffalo and anyone who was watching that moment with a little extra concern. He was able to walk off the field on his own, and the team sent him for an X-ray before getting a clearer picture.
For now, the injury is being treated as day to day, with medical sources not considering it serious and a chance he suits up next against the Chargers. For the Lions, it is a reminder of how quickly one collision can become a storyline that lingers beyond the final whistle, especially when the player involved is central to an opponents offense. The immediate scare appears to have passed, but the next update will still matter for both teams short-term outlooks. [Read more 🡒]