ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Victory Monday was, admittedly, a bit extra somber for Dan Campbell this week.
His Detroit Lions improved to 2-1 on the season following a 20-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals. However it didn’t come and not using a value — the well being of a number of key gamers. You could possibly sense it in Campbell’s tone on Monday, sounding like a coach attempting to select up the items.
“Begin right here, (Lions DL Marcus) Davenport shall be out,” Campbell started, happening a laundry listing of accidents. “Seems to be like that’s a season-ender there. We’re nonetheless getting another opinions on it. (Lions LB Derrick) Barnes goes to be down a major period of time, after which, actually, all people else is day-to-day. (Lions DL Alim McNeill) Mac shall be day-to-day, (Lions TE Sam) LaPorta’s day-to-day and (Lions DB Brian) Department is within the protocol, however as of at the moment, he was doing fairly good, so we’ll see the place that goes.”
These are 5 of Detroit’s 22 starters, all with various timelines and accidents. Add All-Professional middle Frank Ragnow in there, too, after Campbell confirmed he suffered a torn pec. In a recreation the place you couldn’t go 5 minutes and not using a participant needing help from a coach, the Lions weren’t in a position to go away Arizona unscathed, and the aftermath left them with a hobbled workforce simply three weeks right into a promising season.
Right here’s every thing it is advisable to know in regards to the harm listing, and the way the Lions may keep afloat.
Edge Marcus Davenport (elbow), out for the season
We’ll begin with Davenport, a free-agent addition who was signed to assist reshape Detroit’s line of defense. A proficient move rusher obtainable for simply $6.5 million on a one-year deal, it spoke extra about his lack of availability than his talent set. Accidents have derailed the previous first-rounder’s profession. He’s by no means performed a whole season. He performed simply 4 video games for the Minnesota Vikings final season. If Davenport does miss the remainder of the 2024 season, it’ll be over three video games in — with Davenport solely enjoying in two of these video games.
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That was all the time the danger with a signing like this. Gamers are on the mercy of their very own our bodies, and generally, these our bodies betray them. That seems to be the case with Davenport — a person who merely can’t appear to catch a break. He was introduced right here to be the highly effective, pocket-collapsing edge rusher the Lions have wanted reverse Aidan Hutchinson. For 2 video games, he definitely seemed the half. You simply questioned how lengthy it will maintain up. We now have our reply.
“It’s tremendous unlucky,” Lions defensive sort out DJ Reader mentioned. “You by no means need to lose considered one of your brothers. Everyone knows it’s a part of the sport. They understand it. We all know it. They’re going to be right here, they’re a part of us, you don’t lose them. They all the time include you. You simply convey these guys with you and hope you can be there of their nook as they battle what they’re going by way of. It’s a troublesome battle for them. One of the best factor you are able to do as a teammate is simply shine that mild on the workforce. Present them how they’ve helped you and ensure it doesn’t go wasted.”
So, then, how may the Lions transfer ahead? It’s prone to be a little bit of a committee method. Levi Onwuzurike can play the sting and has at occasions this season. We may see extra of Josh Paschal taking over the Davenport position as an edge-setter within the run recreation or on early downs, with Onwuzurike kicking out on apparent passing conditions. James Houston can’t do the issues Davenport can, but when the Lions wish to recoup some pass-rush juice, perhaps we see extra of him. Maybe Isaac Ukwu will get the decision from the observe squad.
Linebacker Derrick Barnes, a flexible participant on protection, is predicted to overlook prolonged time. (Mike Mulholland / Getty Pictures)
Campbell talked about linebacker Derrick Barnes as one other participant set to overlook prolonged time, and that may be an even bigger blow than Davenport. He’s arguably essentially the most versatile participant on this Lions’ protection, able to dashing the passer (63 line of defense snaps this season), enjoying within the field as a stack linebacker (34 snaps) and within the slot (23 snaps) as a protection defender. He discovered a house on this jack-of-all-trades position — in a contract yr, no much less — however the Lions shall be with out his companies for a bit. There’s actually nobody else on this Lions’ roster who can do what he does, in addition to he does.
The Lions have tried Houston at Sam linebacker, but it surely’s an experiment they’ve moved off of. Mitchell Agude performed some Sam throughout coaching camp and stays on the observe squad. Or the Lions may go together with a extra conventional linebacker like Jalen Reeves-Maybin. They’ll work to seek out the appropriate answer.
“He can achieve this many issues,” linebacker Jack Campbell mentioned of Barnes. “He’s simply such a particular participant. …We’re gonna want different guys to step up simply on the outdoors backer place, and I really feel like we’ve got an ideal room with that, and clearly, some flexibility there, simply with Anzo (Alex Anzalone) with the ability to play a number of positions, Jerm (Jalen Reeves-Maybin) with the ability to play a number of positions, (Ben) Niemann with the ability to step in. Inside that nucleus of men, you’re gonna see somebody step up and simply do a incredible job.”
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C Frank Ragnow (torn pec), TBD
The harm that got here out of nowhere was Ragnow’s. It was reported late Monday night that Ragnow had suffered a torn pec within the win over the Cardinals, an harm that occurred early on. He performed the complete recreation. Par for the course with him. He’s thought-about week-to-week.
“Initially, Frank is cussed,” Campbell mentioned. “He’s hard-headed, Frank. He’s powerful, he’s cussed, so he needs to go. He all the time needs to go. However that is one thing we’re nonetheless speaking about proper now, not fully certain what we’re going to do with him. A variety of is, the place is he going to really feel by the center or finish of the week?”
The query shall be how the Lions need to play this harm. It doesn’t sound like a serious tear that might make for a prolonged absence. Ragnow’s ache tolerance is greater than most, so perhaps the Lions sit him for Monday night time’s recreation vs. the Seahawks and re-evaluate in Week 6, following the workforce’s Week 5 bye. If Ragnow misses this week, there are just a few choices to exchange him. The most probably situation would contain Graham Glasgow shifting from left guard to middle, with considered one of Michael Niese or Kayode Awosika at guard. They might additionally put Niese at middle in the event that they need to maintain Glasgow at guard and keep away from disrupting a number of positions. However figuring out Ragnow, you possibly can’t rule out that he performs by way of this.
Different accidents
LaPorta,Department and McNeill left Sunday’s recreation. LaPorta is coping with an ankle sprain, per Campbell, and whereas he tried to play by way of it, he clearly didn’t appear to be himself. LaPorta is understood to play by way of accidents, however with a Week 5 bye, it may make sense to sit down him and let him heal up. If he’s pressured to overlook time, anticipate Brock Wright to be extra concerned within the passing recreation. We may additionally see a observe squad tight finish like Shane Zylstra get the decision.
Department was a part of a scary second within the recreation — colliding helmets with Cardinals tight finish Trey McBride left him immobile on the bottom for a quick second. He later walked off the sphere and is in concussion protocol. Campbell mentioned he’s “doing good,” however they might play it protected and sit him like they did with Anzalone final week. Second-year security Brandon Joseph is subsequent in line, with Ifeatu Melifonwu nonetheless recovering from an ankle harm. And at last, McNeill is coping with a shoulder harm. He left Sunday’s recreation and didn’t return. Rookie sixth-rounder Mekhi Wingo might be in line for extra snaps if McNeill can’t go.
This can be a less-than-ideal state of affairs for the Lions. Their depth shall be examined. We’ll see in the event that they’re prepared.
(High photograph: Michael Owens / Getty Pictures)
