The Lions are sitting at 2-2, and that record has put a little extra pressure on Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. A loss wouldn’t knock Detroit out of the playoff picture, but it would be a rough look for a team trying to steady itself after a 31-26 road loss to the Carolina Panthers, where the defensive issues kept showing up.
With the trade deadline arriving Nov. 10 and the Lions tied for last in the NFC North with the Green Bay Packers, the roster could use help in a few spots. Cornerback may be the loudest need, but there are other places Detroit could strengthen if it wants to make a real push for the division and a possible playoff run.
Running back is one of them. The Lions are one Jahmyr Gibbs injury away from Sione Vaki being their starter, and that is a situation Detroit would clearly prefer to avoid.
If the team wants insurance there, Kenny Gainwell of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be a name to watch. Through four games this season for the winless Buccaneers, he has 26 rushing yards on 13 carries.
Tony Pollard of the Tennessee Titans and Brian Robinson Jr. of the Washington Commanders are also listed as possible options.
Safety is another spot that could use reinforcements. The Lions need help in the secondary no matter what happens with defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, and adding another safety would give them more support back there. Malik Mustapha of the San Francisco 49ers, Caleb Downs of the Dallas Cowboys, and Jesse Bates of the Atlanta Falcons are all mentioned as possible trade targets who could bring needed help at the position.
Detroit could even look at quarterback depth. Joshua Dobbs is currently the backup behind Jared Goff, but the roster does not have a third quarterback.
That makes the position worth monitoring, even if a move seems unlikely. The names floated as possible additions are Jacoby Brissett of the Arizona Cardinals, Mason Rudolph of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Mac Jones of the San Francisco 49ers.
All three would be viewed as fitting backup options for Goff.
In Other News...
Dan Campbells Ditka Reaction Hit A Nerve Lions Fans Know Too Well
Mike Ditkas death at 86 brought an immediate wave of reflection across the NFL, and for Dan Campbell it clearly meant more than just the passing of a legend. The Lions coach spoke about Ditka with the kind of respect that comes from knowing exactly how much he shaped the game, remembering the Hall of Fame tight ends rise with the Bears, the Super Bowl title that followed, and the long shadow he later cast in New Orleans.
For Detroit fans, Campbells reaction landed with a familiar edge, because Ditka has always represented a hard line in the franchises division rival history. Campbells admiration was unmistakable, but the moment also underscored how personal these losses can feel when a coach who helped define one era of football becomes the subject of a current coachs memories and respect. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Draft Radar Is Already Focusing On Some Intriguing Early Fits
The Lions college scouting calendar is already starting to take shape, and a fresh look at the upcoming slate points to several prospects worth keeping on the radar. Among the names being tracked are Hubbard, Smith, Evans and Clarke, each offering a different kind of appeal based on recent production, traits and how they might translate to Detroits roster needs. There is also some added background here through offensive coordinator Drew Petzings connection to the Arizona Cardinals, which helps explain why a few of these evaluations may carry more than casual interest.
What makes this kind of early monitoring useful is that it goes beyond highlight chasing and into fit, with the Lions always looking for players who can match their physical profile and developmental timeline. Evans is one of the more interesting examples because of the position switch he made at Nebraska, while the others bring their own case studies in how much a strong stretch of fall football can move a prospects stock. For Detroit, the real value is in watching which of these players keep stacking good games once the matchups get tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Keep Drawing The Wrong Kind Of NFL Attention
The Lions keep showing up in the NFLs disciplinary notes for all the wrong reasons, and Week 4 added another pair of entries. Tight end Brock Wright was fined for unnecessary roughness after a leg whip against Carolina, while linebacker Jack Campbell also got hit with a penalty for a hip-drop tackle in the same game, another sign that Detroits physical edge has been costly as well as effective.
It has become a frustrating pattern for a team trying to keep its focus on the field. Detroit has had at least one player fined in each of the first four weeks of the season, a run that says as much about the leagues scrutiny as it does about the Lions style of play, and it leaves the club trying to clean up the kind of attention no contender wants. [Read more 🡒]