DETROIT LIONS NEWS

Lions' Jared Goff part of star-studded bid to bring WNBA team back to Detroit

Detroit wants to bring the WNBA back to the Motor City, backed by an investor group that includes Lions quarterback Jared Goff.

18 HOURS AGO

Jets hire Tanner Engstrand as offensive coordinator and Chris Banjo as special teams coordinator

The New York Jets have hired Detroit Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand as their offensive coordinator and Denver Broncos assistant special teams coach Chris Banjo as...

18 HOURS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lions QB Jared Goff delivers a near-perfect performance to open the Pro Bowl Games for the NFC

Detroit quarterback Jared Goff delivered a near-perfect performance in “passing the test” and helped the NFC take a 14-7 lead over the AFC during the opening night of the Pro Bowl...

1 DAY AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ennis Rakestraw Jr. - Ends 2024 on injured reserve Rakestraw (hamstring) played in eight regular-season games in 2024 and finished with six tackles (four solo).

Impact The rookie second-round pick mostly contributed on special teams through the first half of the regular season, but he was shelved in late November for the rest of the 2024 campaign due to a hamstring injury. He was able to progress enough in his recovery for his 21-day practice window to open Jan. 9, and it's unclear whether he would've been healthy enough to play in the NFC Championship game if the Lions had advanced that far. Rakestraw will compete with Carlton Davis, Amik Robertson and fellow rookie Terrion Arnold for the starting outside corner job for the 2025 campaign.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Ifeatu Melifonwu - Limited action in 2024 Melifonwu (hamstring) played in three regular-season games in 2024 and finished with 10 tackles (eight solo), including 1.0 sacks.

Impact The 2021 third-round pick didn't make his regular-season debut until Week 16 against the Bears due to ankle and hand injuries. He was instantly inserted as the starting safety alongside Kerby Joseph and had a productive end to the regular season, but Melifonwu was unable to finish the Lions' NFC divisional-round loss against the Commanders after suffering a hamstring injury. Melifonwu enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, though he told reporters Tuesday that he would like to re-sign with Detroit, per Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

2024 NFL Re-Draft: Would Bears take Caleb Williams or Jayden Daniels at No. 1?

If the Bears could do it over again, which QB would they draft first overall? How high does Bo Nix go? We redo the entire first round.

1 DAY AGO

2025 NFL mock draft: A first round with Arch Manning, all underclassmen eligible

Would Arch Manning or Jeremiah Smith go No. 1? Rob Rang forecasts who every NFL team would target with their 2025 first-round pick if every...

1 DAY AGO

Al-Quadin Muhammad - Tallies 3.0 sacks in 2024 Muhammad played in nine regular-season games in 2024 and finished with 11 tackles (eight solo), including 3.0 sacks, and one pass defense.

Impact Muhammad was a healthy scratch for the first half of the season and didn't make his Lions' debut until Week 8 against the Titans. He ended up serving a rotational role at defensive end due to the Lions' numerous injuries on the defensive front. Muhammad enters the 2025 offseason as an unrestricted free agent, and he should garner interest from teams looking to solidify its defensive front.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Za'Darius Smith - Finishes 2024 with 9.0 sacks Smith logged 35 tackles (22 solo), including 9.0 sacks, and one pass defense across 17 regular-season games in 2024.

Impact Smith was in Cleveland for the first half of the 2024 regular season, but he was traded along with a 2026 seventh-round pick to Detroit in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick. Smith's production with the Lions mirrored his output with the Browns, and he gave Detroit much needed depth at defensive end following the loss of Aidan Hutchinson (leg). Smith will be under the final year of his two-year contract in 2025 and will form a formidable pass-rushing duo with Hutchinson once the latter is fully healthy.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Kindle Vildor - Two starts in 2024 Vildor finished the 2024 regular season with 16 tackles (10 solo) and three pass defenses across 17 games.

Impact Vildor signed a one-year, $1.29 million contract with the Lions in April of 2024 after spending the 2023 campaign with Detroit, Tennessee and Chicago. The 2020 fifth-round pick was a consistent contributor on special teams, but did start at outside corner for Week 12 and 13 and recorded six tackles (five solo) over that span. Vildor enters the 2025 offseason as an unrestricted free agent, and he'll look to join a team that can offer him more snaps with the first-team defense.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Pat O'Connor - Earns rotational defensive role O'Connor logged 18 tackles (five solo), including 1.0 sacks, across 12 regular-season games in 2024

Impact O'Connor was signed to the Lions' active roster in mid-October after failing to make the cut at the end of training camp in late August. O'Connor was brought in to give Detroit much-needed depth on the defensive line following the losses of Aidan Hutchinson (leg), Marcus Davenport (triceps), Mekhi Wingo (knee) and Kyle Peko (pectoral). O'Connor made the most of his opportunity by logging career highs in combined tackles and defensive snaps (220). He suffered a calf injury during the Lions' regular-season finale against the Vikings, and it was severe enough for him to be sidelined for Detroits' NFC divisional-round loss to Washington. O'Connor enters the offseason as a free agent, and the 2017 seventh-round pick could opt to remain with the Lions or explore opportunities elsewhere.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Josh Paschal - Starts 10 games in third season Paschal finished the 2024 season with 21 tackles (15 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and one fumble recovery across 14 regular-season games.

Impact With Aidan Hutchinson suffering a broken leg in Week 6 against Dallas, Paschal took on an increased defensive role, starting all 10 games in which he appeared from that point forward. Paschal missed three contests along the way, battling an illness and knee injury. Despite the increased reps off the edge for Detroit, Paschal's sack numbers didn't see a boost, as he's recorded a total of 5.0 sacks across his first 36 career contests. It's been a somewhat disappointing start to his career after the Lions took Paschal with the No. 46 overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. He's set to enter the final year of his rookie deal in 2025.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Trevor Nowaske - Makes strides in second season Nowaske finished the 2024 season with 23 tackles (15 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and one pass breakup, including one interception, across 14 regular-season games.

Impact Undrafted out of Saginaw Valley State in 2023, Nowaske took big playing-time strides in his second season after appearing in just two contests as a rookie. Nowaske even started two games at linebacker for Detroit this past season and logged a total of 332 defensive snaps after seeing zero on defense last season. Set to be an exclusive rights free agent this offseason, Nowaske should be back in Detroit for 2025 to fill a depth and special-teams role.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

DJ Reader - Starts 15 games for Detroit Reader finished the 2024 season with 23 tackles (11 solo), including 3.0 sacks, and one pass breakup across 15 regular-season games.

Impact After four seasons with the Bengals, Reader signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the Lions last offseason and went on to start all 15 regular-season games in which he appeared. Reader missed Week 1 with a quadriceps injury and then missed Week 14 with a shoulder issue. In total, Reader 508 defensive snaps and remained an effective interior presence on the Lions' defensive line. If on the roster on the third day of the upcoming league year in March, Reader will collect a $4 million roster bonus. The Lions will likely want to make a decision on Reader's standing with the team by then, as he's set to carry a $12.933 million cap number for the 2025 campaign. Reader will turn 31 years old in July.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Ben Niemann - Records 25 tackles for Detroit Niemann finished the 2024 season with 25 tackles (11 solo), one pass breakup and one fumble recovery across 17 regular-season games.

Impact Signed to a one-year, $1.125 million deal last offseason, Niemann didn't miss a single game for the Lions and made four starts at linebacker while Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez battled injuries at the position. On top of reserve linebacker duties, Niemann logged a career-high 295 special-teams snaps. The 29-year-old is once again slated to become a free agent this offseason.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Levi Onwuzurike - Strong interior presence for Lions Onwuzurike finished the 2024 regular season with 28 tackles (16 solo), including 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble across 16 games.

Impact Onwuzurike didn't have eye-popping numbers in 2024, but the fourth-year player out of Washington gave opposing offensive lines plenty of trouble with his relentless pass rush. His fifth-year option was declined by Detroit, which means he enters the 2025 offseason as an unrestricted free agent. Onwuzurike should garner plenty of interest from teams looking to solidify the interior of its defensive line such as the Patriots, who hired former Lions' defensive line coach Terrell Williams on Jan. 22 to serve as New England's defensive coordinator under head coach Mike Vrabel.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Terrion Arnold - Heavy usage in rookie season Arnold finished the 2024 regular season with 60 tackles (47 solo), 10 pass defenses and one fumble recovery across 16 games.

Impact The 2024 first-round pick out of Alabama was the second starting outside cornerback right from the start of the regular season opposite Carlton Davis (jaw). Arnold found himself matched up against the opposing team's top pass-catching threat after Carlton Davis fractured his jaw in Week 15 against the Bills. Arnold experienced his fair share of rookie struggles in pass coverage, particularly in the Lions' divisional-round loss to the Commanders, but that experience should bode well in his development over the offseason and heading into the 2025 campaign.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Lions agree to hire Broncos' John Morton as OC and promote Kelvin Sheppard to DC, AP source says

The Detroit Lions have agreed to hire Denver Broncos assistant John Morton as offensive coordinator and promote Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator

3 DAYS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Recent Jets, Patriots hirings give NFL five teams with coaches who once played for them

With the recent hirings of Aaron Glenn and Mike Vrabel, the NFL now has five coaches who once played for the teams they're now leading.

4 DAYS AGO

Aidan Hutchinson - Impressive start cut short in 2024 Hutchinson finished the 2024 regular season with 19 total tackles (12 solo), including 7.5 sacks, while also adding a forced fumble over five games.

Impact Hutchinson got off to a red-hot start in 2024, recording at least 1.0 sacks in four of Detroit's first five games, including a Week 2 performance against the Buccaneers in which he compiled 4.5 sacks. The defensive end suffered a season-ending broken left tibia and fibula in Week 6 against the Cowboys, cutting short what figured to be a rather special season. The 24-year-old will continue to focus on his recovery process and he'll enter the 2025 offseason on the final year of his rookie contract.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Alex Anzalone - Limited by injury in 2024 Anzalone finished the 2024 regular season with 63 total tackles (43 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding five passes defensed over 10 games.

Impact Anzalone was a crucial piece of Detroit's defensive identity in 2024, but he suffered a broken forearm injury in Week 11 versus the Lions, which sidelined him for six contests. The linebacker saw a dip in overall production as a result of the injury while second-year player Jack Campbell also emerged as the team's most consistent option at middle linebacker throughout the season. Anzalone is still under contract with the Lions for one more season in 2025 and he'll look to get back on track after producing back-to-back seasons with at least 125 tackles in 2022 and 2023.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Kerby Joseph - Interception machine in 2024 Joseph finished the 2024 regular season with 83 total tackles (58 solo), while also adding 12 passes defensed, including nine interceptions, over 17 games.

Impact Joseph matched his career-high 83 total tackles in 2024, but he more than doubled his career interception total this year. The safety had combined to intercept eight balls during his first two years in the league before he picked off an NFL-high nine passes, one of which he returned for a touchdown in Week 9 versus the rival Packers, this season. The 24-year-old has formed a dynamic duo with Brian Branch at safety for Detroit and Joseph will be entering the final year of his rookie contract with the Lions in 2025.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Brian Branch - Monster year 2 with Detroit Branch finished the 2024 regular season with 109 total tackles (79 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding 16 passes defensed, including four interceptions, and a forced fumb...

Impact Branch finished second on the team in tackles, only trailing linebacker Jack Campbell, while he was also able to intercept one more pass in 2024 than he did in his rookie campaign last year. Branch proved his versatility throughout the season as well, splitting time between safety and slot cornerback. The 23-year-old is off to quite the hot start in his NFL career and he'll look to take another step up in 2025.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Jack Campbell - Steps up production in year 2 Campbell finished the 2024 regular season with 131 total tackles (69 solo), including 1.5 sacks, while also adding five passes defensed and a forced fumble over 17 games.

Impact Campbell was once again able to run the gauntlet in 2024, appearing in all 17 regular-season games with the Lions. The linebacker led the team in total tackles, increasing his output from 95 takedowns in 2023 as a rookie. Campbell was also able to secure the first forced fumble of his career in Week 4 against the Seahawks. The 24-year-old figures to be a fixture in the middle of the Lions' defense for years to come and he'll look to take another step up in 2025.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Shane Zylstra - Quiet 2024 campaign Zylstra finished the 2024 regular season having caught his only target for 22 yards over 10 games.

Impact Zylstra was virtually non-existent on the offensive side of the ball in 2024, operating as the No. 3 tight end behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. Zylstra's only catch came in Week 11 against the Jaguars when LaPorta didn't play due to a shoulder injury. Zylstra will enter the offseason as a restricted free agent, meaning the Lions will have the ability to match any offer put in front of him by another team.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE