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Here’s a link to the 2023 snap count…seems like everybody but Goff does some amount of special teams work
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Here’s a link to the 2023 snap count…seems like everybody but Goff does some amount of special teams work"This is an empty signature. Because apparently carrying a quote from anyone in this space means you are obsessed with that person. " -
As Sewell's sack-less streak ends after 385 days, Lions' offense tackle sharpens focus
Justin Rogers
The Detroit News
Allen Park — It had been so long, no one would have blamed you if you no longer considered it possible.
For more than a year — 385 days to be exact — Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell hadn't given up a sack. But in the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints last Sunday, on a third-and-11 play, the improbable happened, when former third-round pick Zack Baun zipped around the right edge and dropped Lions quarterback Jared Goff, as Sewell watched from his knees, having missed a last-ditch, lunging effort to redirect the defender.
And just like that, Sewell's streak, one that spanned more than 700 dropbacks, was over.
Of course, it changes nothing. The reality is Sewell has been everything the Lions could have expected and more since general manager Brad Holmes used the first draft pick of his tenure to select the ultra-talented tackle No. 7 overall in 2021.
Not even being flipped from left to right tackle to begin his career could derail Sewell from rapidly developing into not only one of the game's best young players at the position, but one of the best, regardless of age. A keystone of Detroit's rebuild, the 23-year-old has also emerged as a franchise leader in his third season, selected a captain by his teammates and weekly breaking down the huddle with an impassioned speech before each game. He's on track for a second Pro Bowl selection, firmly in the mix for his first All-Pro honors, and the No. 1 ranked offensive lineman, regardless of position, by Pro Football Focus.
As the kids might say, we have no notes.
What Baun's sack did was offer a reminder Sewell is mortal. Or maybe former Wisconsin linebackers are simply his Kryptonite. The last sack Sewell allowed was to undrafted rookie Jack Sanborn, another Badger alum. And neither Baun or Sanborn is a pass-rushing savant. For Baun, it was the first sack of his four-year career. Sanborn has 3.0 in two seasons, coincidentally, all coming against the Lions, although just one as Sewell's assignment.
Asked to reflect on his impressive streak, Sewell winces. It's been a few days, but the sting of a rare failure bringing it to an end lingers.
"It definitely meant a lot to me, but it is what it is," Sewell said. "This is a game where everyone is a professional. It still was a tough one to swallow. I just need to learn from it and move forward."
An initial look at the play might have you thinking Sewell slipped on the artificial surface at the Superdome. As he reaches for Baun, a wave of ground-up rubber pellets flings into the air from Sewell's trail foot before he goes to the ground.
The idea that it could be an equipment or playing surface mishap is a built-in excuse if he was looking for one. But great players and leaders don't make excuses, and Sewell is clearly both. Instead, he shoulders blame for the sack on multiple levels, both the physical breakdown and a lapse in his preparation.
"I'm going to give him credit," Sewell said. "That was a good move. There wasn't a lot of reps (on film) of him on the edge this year. He got me. It was a great move by him."
Maybe we should have seen this momentary letdown coming. Sewell had a few uncharacteristic lapses in pass protection in the weeks leading up to the Saints game. Even though they hadn't resulted in a sack, he had allowed Goff to be hit four times in the past four matchups, including two third-down breakdowns on Thanksgiving, when Detroit's entire offensive line uncharacteristically struggled in an ugly loss to division-rival Green Bay.
Baun getting home was a culmination of a stretch of adversity that probably goes unnoticed for any blocker with a lesser reputation than the one Sewell has established. But more is expected of Detroit's star tackle because of who he is and what he's already accomplished. And, in some ways, he needed this rough patch to remind him of that.
"I think it puts me in a great place, to be honest," Sewell said. "When everybody is talking good in your ear, you kind of lose the truth a little bit. The truth is you have to be focused and consistent on an every-down basis. It doesn't matter how good you're playing, or how good people are telling you you're playing, at the end of day, you have to go out there and execute consistently. I am able to learn from these."
So now the next sack-less streak begins. Who knows, maybe it'll be another year before Sewell lets a defender get to his quarterback. Honestly, would anyone be surprised?
"Oh yeah, it's on," Sewell said. "I don't want to talk about that too much, but it's on."
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
@Justin_Rogers
"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
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Here's what Hendon Hooker has been doing since joining Lions practice
Nolan Bianchi
The Detroit News
Allen Park — It was a full calendar year that Hendon Hooker waited to take part in his first NFL practice.
After tearing his ACL at Tennessee in a November contest against South Carolina, getting taken as a third-round pick in the NFL Draft and missing a majority of his rookie season, Hooker took part in his first professional practice last week.
Hendon Hooker 1st pro practice.jpg
Still, the wait continues for a meaningful snap. Lions quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell on Wednesday said Hooker has only gone through individual drills thus far, but with the Lions defense preparing for speedy Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields on Sunday, he may get his first scout-team reps this week.
"It's great to have him on the field," Brunell said. "He works hard, and he's the young guy, so we give him a little grief, but we're so glad to have him out there. He's a talented kid. But really, we've just had individual drills ... he hasn't had a true snap yet."
As simple as it may sound, with limited practice time each week, there hasn't really been an opportunity for Hooker to get any meaningful work in. Starting quarterback Jared Goff takes all the first-team reps and backup Teddy Bridgewater, as Brunell put it, "is trying to get ready for Sunday just like anybody else, and so ... Teddy has to get what he can."
Even Hooker's role on the scout team won't come saddled with much analysis on how he's "doing," per se.
"He's not reading (a defense), he's just kind of doing what the card says. Sometimes those receivers are circled, so he's told to throw tothat guy, and listen, there's not a lot to (glean) from that until he gets some meaningful reps," Brunell said.
"The scout team is just, where does the ball go? How does it come out of his hand? He's got a little zip on it. Is it accurate? Is he moving around? How are his feet? So I'll be looking at him closely."
Hooker was the No. 68 overall pick in this past year's draft after a monster 2022 season with the Volunteers. He amassed a 27-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio while completing 69.6% of his passes and averaging 285 yards per game through the air with 430 rushing yards (39.1 per game).
He was held out of all team activities during the ever-crucial rookie offseason and limited to throwing after practice for a majority of the summer. Once the season started, the only team-related activity he could participate in was team meetings.
While he may be going slow and steady in the here and now, the Lions have to be thrilled about the idea of him hitting the ground running next offseason.
nbianchi@detroitnews.com
@nolanbianchi
"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
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Lions' Aidan Hutchinson explains decision to buzz hair
Nolan Bianchi
The Detroit News
Allen Park — In the Bible, Samson was a figure who gained superhuman strength from not cutting his hair.
And while Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson may have been planning to do something special with his growing, longer hair — he told reporters over the summer he was growing it out for “something special" — he is apparently trying the opposite approach from Samson.
In the midst of a sack slump, Hutchinson showed up to the Lions locker room on Wednesday sporting his brand-new look, a military cut.
“Just got to change it up. Gotta change it up. Long hair had to go. It wasn’t doing it for me and so I said ‘Screw it, let’s buzz my hair off,’” Hutchinson told reporters.
Hutchinson ranks third in the NFL with 70 pressures, but hasn’t been able to translate that into sacks, where he’s tied for 45th with 5.5.
Agnew to the accelerator
Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew has been chosen to represent the Lions in this year’s Front Office and General Manager Accelerator Program from Dec. 11-13 at league meetings in Dallas, Texas.
The program is designed to help strengthen the league’s “pipeline of diversity” at the front-office and coaching levels. Agnew, who played 11 years in the NFL before forging a career in scouting, came to Detroit from Los Angeles with Lions general manager Brad Holmes in 2021.
Agnew will be participating in the program, which began last year, for the second time. Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn participated in the Coach Accelerator in 2022.
Injury report
Frank Ragnow (knee/back/toe) did not return to practice Thursday. Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle) was limited for the second time this week. Edge rusher Bruce Irvin, who was not included on the injury report because he’s on the practice squad, returned to practice Thursday after missing Wednesday with an ankle injury.
nbianchi@detroitnews.com
@nolanbianchi
"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
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With wealth of options, production of Lions' playmakers will continue to fluctuate
Justin Rogers
The Detroit News
Allen Park — In last Sunday's win over the New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta accounted for more than 40% of the team's total offense and nearly 70% of the pass-game production.
When one flower gets all that water and sunshine, the others tend to wilt. Against the Saints, most of Detroit's remaining offensive weapons saw production well below average levels. Leading receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown got a season-low six targets resulting in two receptions for 49 yards, also season lows.
Amon-Ra St. Brown had season lows vs. Saints.jpg
Another player who experienced a reduced role was rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs. His 44.8% snap share was his lowest in six weeks and his 10 combined carries and targets were his fewest since the season-opener, his pro debut.
"It's a balancing act right now and it's a blessing and a curse to have this many talented skill players," Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said. "I mean, we've got a phenomenal tight end. We've got two really good running backs and we've got all five receivers that are up on game day who really deserve to get the ball in their hands and get a chance to run with it."
Ultimately, the loudest complaints about how much Gibbs, St. Brown or even Jameson Williams are being used are coming from a vocal fantasy sports community. As you might imagine, that's the least of the the Lions concerns. Their focus is winning games, and in a contest where LaPorta ate and the other weapons got by on scraps, the Lions scored 33 points to secure a victory on the road.
"Each week it’s, 'Guys, you’re all going to have plays in and somebody's probably going to be at the end of the game not as happy with not touching the ball enough,'" Johnson explained. "We just try to cycle it around each week who's got that. But we’ve got a lot of dynamic playmakers and that’s a challenge for us right now."
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
@Justin_Rogers
"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
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Because the only thing he's good at is rushing the passer. He doesn't play the run well and he doesn't cover well -- but they think he has the ability to become good at those. They wanted him to develop his other skills so he can play more than just obvious passing downs and give them better options on defense when he's on the field.Originally posted by ghandi View Post
edit: I don't know why he's playing special teams, but probably because he's got great athletic ability and is a good tackler and he's only a specialist on defense atm.Last edited by El Axe; December 8, 2023, 12:58 AM.Comment
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Detroit Lions pass rusher James Houston: 'I could definitely get back before the playoffs'
Dave Birkett
Detroit Free Press
More help is on the way for the Detroit Lions' inconsistent pass rush.
Outside linebacker James Houston said Wednesday he is nearing the end of his rehab from the broken fibula he suffered in a Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and expects to play again in the regular season.
The Lions (9-3) visit the Chicago Bears on Sunday and close the regular season with games against the Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings (twice) and Dallas Cowboys. They could clinch a playoff spot as soon as next week.
"Timeline is looking like I could definitely get back before the playoffs," Houston told a small group of reporters in his first public comments since his injury. "It feels good. I feel like I didn’t really get too much games under my belt or really any type of experience other than not too good of plays (before I got hurt), so I’m ready to get back out there, just kind of see how it is."
James Houston 9-17-2023.jpg
Houston was injured covering a kick in the third quarter of the Lions' home loss to the Seahawks, when he was on the receiving end of a violent block by Nick Bellore and said his foot "got stuck in the ground."
He underwent TightRope surgery to repair the injury, a process that involved anchoring two cords and a plate in his lower leg.
He said he does not currently have any restrictions in his rehab
“I’m probably on the last quarter of the rehab and so yeah, it’s probably a really important quarter for me just to kind of make sure everything is right, mentally, physically, and I get the checks and clears from everybody," he said. "There's nothing really I can’t do, it’s just the process of how these things mature."
One of the Lions' top pass rushers with eight sacks in seven games as a rookie last year, the Lions have missed Houston's edge presence this season.
The Lions rank 27th in the NFL with 25 sacks and have gone sack-less in two of three losses and four games overall this season.
James Houston 1-1-2023.jpg
Aidan Hutchinson leads the Lions with 5½ sacks, but defensive tackle Alim McNeill, the team's No. 2 pass rusher, will miss at least the next four weeks with a knee sprain and the Lions have gotten few impact plays from their other edge defenders.
Houston, who one tackle, one quarterback hit and no sacks in 32 defensive snaps in the Lions' first two games, said he hopes to change that when he returns to action.
"I feel like it’s not humble saying it, but I feel like I'm a game changer," he said. "I make very explosive plays and so I feel like that’s what the team needs. They need turnovers, they need explosive plays to swing that momentum in our favor and that only helps the team. I feel like that’s something that I’m really good at."
After feeling some initial despair about his injury, Houston said he's found more optimism during rehab.
While he has missed playing in games and being a part of the Lions' success on the field, he said he'll be fresh for the playoffs and compared his situation to the one he thrived in last year, when he spent the first half of the season on practice squad and did not play in a game until Thanksgiving.
James Houston 9-7-2023.jpg
"I was out there practicing with the team, but I wasn’t really out on Sundays with the guys, I wasn’t traveling to the away games, same way now so it’s just like you just get to watch and kind of see the team from afar," he said. "You also get to interact with a lot of the guys and kind of see how it is, then you’re able to figure out what the team kind of needs physically, emotionally, everything, and so you’re kind of just able to plug in."
With a return potentially in the cards after Christmas for both him and starting safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Houston said the Lions defense, which has allowed an average of 30.3 points in its four games since the bye, could have a totally different feel in the postseason.
"I feel like there are two high-level players and I feel like we can really change the outcome of our season, the outcome of the defense, everything," Houston said. "These are two players that can really help the defense. so I’m excited. I know he’s excited. But yeah, I feel like we can really do a lot. I know (defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is) probably looking for us to come back so it should be a really exciting time."
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
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Dan Campbell: 'Be careful' assuming McNeill, others made injuries worse returning to play
Dave Birkett
Detroit Free Press
After Alim McNeill banged knees with Aidan Hutchinson on the fourth play of the third quarter in last week's win over the New Orleans Saints, he hobbled off the field and limped straight to the bench.
Detroit Lions trainers surrounded McNeill, checked his leg and eventually cleared him to return.
McNeill was back on the field for the Lions' next defensive series, made a couple tackles on New Orleans' fourth-quarter touchdown drive, then left the game again with just over 3 minutes to play when he got "rolled up at the bottom of a pile."
Vaitai 9-17-2023.jpg
McNeill downplayed the extent of his injuries after the game, saying he was "good." But an MRI on Monday revealed he sprained his knee, and the Lions placed him on injured reserve Tuesday, out for at least the next four games.
At least three other Lions players have suffered an injury in-game this season, returned to play the same day and then missed time in the following weeks. C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Kerby Joseph were injured on the opening drive of a Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, returned to play after short absences, then missed at least the next two weeks with injuries; Gardner-Johnson tore his pectoral muscle and still hasn't played again this year.
Brian Branch rolled his ankle early in the third quarter of a Week 4 win against the Packers, returned in the fourth quarter and eventually left the game a second time. He missed two weeks with a high ankle sprain.
And offensive linemen Taylor Decker and Jonah Jackson also missed games with ankle injuries after they were initially hurt early in games but stayed on the field and played through their injuries.
In most of those cases, Lions coach Dan Campbell said he does not believe the player's same-day return to action contributed to the time he missed in the following weeks.
"I don't feel that way," Campbell said Wednesday. "Decker, maybe, cause he did, he played the whole game on that thing. I think C.J., it was done and he just willed himself to play the rest of that game. It was already torn, which we didn’t know at the time, which is hard. You do the test and he’s good, and he feels (like he can play).
"Look, there’s always going to be a little bit of that give and take. You do the best you can with it and you got to trust your doctors and you got to trust the player, too, at some point, and then use your gut on it. But I don’t think this is – this is something, if we think we’re going to set a player back, he’s out for the rest of the year, you’re going to set him back six weeks, whatever that is. No, that doesn’t make sense."
Frank Ragnow 12-3-2023.jpg
The NFL embraces a gladiator culture in many ways. It's a next-man-up business, as coaches like to say, and the best-ability-is-availability adage often applies.
Players feel pressure, both real and imagined, to be on the field for themselves and their team, and the adrenaline that helps ordinary people push through pain can be a blessing and a curse on gamedays.
Campbell has been proactive about giving players time off during training camp and in-season to rest nagging aches and pains. Lions center Frank Ragnow, for instance, sits out one practice a week most weeks as a maintenance day for his degenerative toe.
The Lions also have held players (Amon-Ra St. Brown, Alex Anzalone) out of games with injuries they could have tried to play through in order to reduce the risk of an extended absence.
Amon-Ra St. Brown 12-3-2023.jpg
Campbell said it's a leap to suggest most players who returned to action made their injury worse and he cautioned to "be careful on that assumption" even as he acknowledged the team sometimes has to protect players from themselves with in-game injury situations.
"There’s a difference between (some of these injuries)," he said. "You get some of these you think you’re going to make them worse. Like, these can become significant if ... It’s not worth it. But if these are things (where the body part is) stable, it’s a pain issue. Now, whether you can deal with it or not, that’s up to the player. But I think those are a little bit different.
"And if it’s, look, it’s not going to get worse, he’s going to have to deal with pain, he wants to go back in, I’m all for it. But if we feel like, man, we could put this player behind and relative to the production we’re going to get out of him being less than 100%, it’s probably not worth it. Then, yeah, we don’t want to do that to our guys."
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
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Speedy Detroit Lions WR Jameson Williams so fast 'I'd place' if I ran in the Olympics
Dave Birkett
Detroit Free Press
Jameson Williams hasn't cracked the list of top 20 fastest plays in the NFL this season, but the second-year Detroit Lions receiver said his speed does make him the fastest man in the game.
"I know if I go to the Olympics, though, I’d place," Williams told the Free Press on Thursday. "One hundred (meters), 200, 400, any race."
Williams hit a top speed of 20.7 mph on his 19-yard touchdown run in last week's win over the New Orleans Saints, according to the NFL's Next Gen Stats.
He took a reverse handoff from Kalif Raymond on the play, looped 12 yards in the backfield and turned on his afterburners as he split two pairs of Saints defenders before leaping into the end zone.
He said his celebration was an attempt to fire up his teammates.
"I do it cause I really know some people on the team might get excited by it," he said. "It might bring the energy up for the next man. Next man might see that and be like, 'Yeah, let me go do something, just make a play or something.' So it’s really, like, energy-boosting for the team."
A high school track star who was considered the fastest player in the 2022 draft, Williams said he hasn't really had a chance to show his true speed in the NFL yet. In high school, he said he ran times of 10.5 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 21.2 seconds in the 200 meters.
"That was 16 years old," Williams said. "I’m 22 now. Even with getting hurt, tearing my ACL, messing up both of my hamstrings, I’ll still go place (in the Olympics)."
Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf has been clocked as the fastest ball carrier in the NFL this season, running 22.23 mph on a 73-yard touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 30. Metcalf caught a short slant on third-and-8 and sprinted the final 50 or so yards to the end zone.
Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill, considered by many the fastest player in the league, is the only other player to top 22 mph as a ball carrier this season and has five of the year's 20 fastest plays.
Williams said he was clocked as fast as 23.3 mph during practices at Alabama in 2021, and has been around 21.9 mph in the pros. Williams tore his ACL in his final college game, and missed time in the preseason with hamstring injuries in both legs.
"I’m waiting on the perfect play to showcase it," Williams said. "It’s not like I'm out there not trying to run fast. I'm running as fast as I can, but when I get the ball in space, I’ll open up for sure."
The Lions have started to incorporate Williams' speed into the offense in a variety of ways in recent weeks. He has been targeted on deep passes and bubble screens, and his carry Sunday was his first of the season and second of his career.
He also had a 40-yard run last season against the Chicago Bears.
Williams has reached reached at least 20 mph on four of his 16 career touches, the highest rate in the NFL since 2022, according to Next Gen Stats.
He mentioned Hill and Metcalf as two of the other fastest players in the NFL — Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III and New York Giants receiver Parris Campbell are the only other ball carriers to hit 20 mph since Williams has been in the league — but he said he's confident he's faster than both.
"A lot of people got like one stick and then they explode like 10, 5 yards from there," Williams said. "The main guy I see though is Tyreek Hill. You could tell by how fast his legs move when he’s running. I don’t really see that a lot.
"I feel like I’m faster. I feel like I’d get him. I just got to showcase it. When I get the ball in some space I’m going to show y’all, for sure."
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
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Ya gotta admire the dude's confidence, I suppose. I don't know if he's getting anywhere close to touching Tyreek, but at the same time, there's a point where once you're that much faster than anyone else on the field that any more speed really doesn't matter. On a lot of his runs so far, it certainly doesn't look like he was putting everything he had into it.Comment
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He's a linebacker, he's going to have to cover people eventually. They actually have to play players on special teams, he is not a faberge egg. You only get 47 players to play, they don't have a full platoon of reserves that only play special teams. If you are a.young guy who you have determined can only play 3rd down and long because you don't want him in pass coverage, then he probably has to play special teams to warrant a spot.Originally posted by ghandi View Post
Again, his best sack last was without a doubt the sack he had while he was in pass coverage.Comment
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Glenn wants to be able to disguise his defense in a similar way that Ben Johnson disguises the offense, being able to roll multiple looks out of the same formations.
When James Houston enters the field of play, it is a massive red klaxon to opponents that #59 is coming for the QB. It instantly means "either a blitz is coming, or a lineman is dropping back into zone." Hence why they put so much effort into giving him reps in coverage; they want him to not be total ass dropping back.
If he can't do that (and right now he really can't), and he's limited simply to being a guy they bring in on obvious passing downs, then it's as Froot has said. He'll need to earn his keep in some other way, and that some other way rather has to be on special teams.Comment
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Lions coaches highlight what they see in CB Vildor after promoting him off practice squad
Justin Rogers
The Detroit News
Allen Park — Even before the Detroit Lions signed cornerback Kindle Vildor last month, they were considering poaching him off of Philadelphia's practice squad. And when the Eagles released him last month, the Lions pounced, signing him to their practice squad the next day.
The Lions were familiar with Vildor after he spent the first three seasons of his career in the division, as a fifth-round pick for the Chicago Bears. They were drawn to his versatility and ball skills, and when another, unnamed team looked to steal him away from the Lions this week, they pulled the trigger on adding him to the active roster ahead of Sunday's game against his former team.
"Always liked the type of athlete that he was, the competitor that he is," Lions coach Dan Campbell said. "He really fits what we do because he can do a little bit of everything. He’s tough, he’ll tackle, so we play him a variety of coverages. He’s a smart, crafty guy. He’s got coverage skills and so look, it’s an opportunity to get up, let him compete a little bit and see where he goes."
That doesn't guarantee Vildor will play this week, or at any point the rest of the season, but there was enough intrigue surrounding the skill set that the Lions weren't ready to let the 5-foot-11, 189-pounder walk without extending their window to evaluate what he could offer a secondary that has had plenty of rough patches during the 2023 season.
Kindle Vildor now plays for Detroit Lions.jpg
"I've been impressed by Kindle's coverage instincts," cornerbacks coach Brian Duker said. "He's been smart to pick up offenses quickly, but has a good feel for routes and route development and how he adjusts his technique relative to what he's getting from the offense."
At Georgia Southern, where Vildor played collegiately, he earned all-conference honors twice, using those instincts to rack up nine interceptions from 2017-19. He notched his first NFL pick last year, but suffered a season-ending ankle injury shortly after, derailing his potential momentum.
In Detroit, he's quickly found himself at home in the Lions' locker room. Both he and teammate Jerry Jacobs are from Atlanta, and Vildor played in the same high school conference as the team's other starting cornerback, Cam Sutton.
Whether Vildor sees action this week remains to be seen, but whenever he gets his opportunity in Detroit, he just wants to show he's reliable and can be trusted.
"I feel like I'm versatile," Vildor said. "I can play man, zone. I've got a lot of experience, have played in a lot of games, so I'm able to fit in and do whatever they need me to do. ..."I'm just somebody that can go out there and make plays, be disciplined in my technique. I just want to make sure I'm not making any mistakes, not hurting the defense."
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
@Justin_Rogers
"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
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As QB injuries pile up across NFL, Lions grateful to have invested in premium insurance
Justin Rogers
The Detroit News
Allen Park — On Thursday Night Football, another NFL team with postseason aspirations had to play a game without its starting quarterback. With Kenny Pickett sidelined indefinitely following ankle surgery, the Pittsburgh Steelers turned to Mitchell Trubisky and were upset at home by the lowly New England Patriots.
Pickett is among a slew of quarterbacks who have fallen victim to to the injury bug this season, including several high-profile passers suffering season-ending ailments. Some of the names on that list are Aaron Rodgers, Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson and Kirk Cousins.
On Monday night, we saw Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence exit the game, putting him in jeopardy of joining an extensive list of QBs who have missed at least one matchup this season. And many others have been pushing through issues. According to a list compiled by Pro Football Talk, only five of the league's 32 starters have been fully healthy this season.
With several of those injury situations befalling playoff contenders, the value of a quality backup quarterback has never been higher. For a team like the Indianapolis Colts, it's difficult to say they'd have been able to remain in the thick of it in the AFC had they not signed Gardner Minshew this offseason as insurance for first-round draft pick Anthony Richardson, who was lost to a shoulder injury early in the year.
Teddy Bridgewater throwing for Detroit Lions.jpg
And even though he lacked Minshew's track record, Jack Browning is keeping the Bengals afloat sans Burrow, delivering one of the finest stand-in performances in recent memory in a win over the Jaguars last Monday, going 32-of-37 for 354 yards.
In Detroit, the Lions are one of those teams that have been blessed with good health at the quarterback spot, thanks to the historic durability of starter Jared Goff and an offensive line that is one of the best in the league at protecting the passer. Despite that formula, the franchise didn't mess around with a contingency plan this offseason, adding 65-game starter Teddy Bridgewater in August.
And even though they hope they never have to break the emergency glass and put Bridgewater into the game this season, his presence makes it a little easier for the Lions to sleep at night.
"I think if you asked coach (Dan) Campbell this question, he'd say, 'That's why Teddy's here,'" Lions quarterback coach Mark Brunell said. "He is a proven winner. He has proven he can come off the bench and win five games in a row for you, if necessary. He did that in New Orleans. He's very smart, very talented, and for a very, very old man, he can still play quarterback at a high level, no question."
Brunell, who played 17 years in the NFL, is clearly joking about Bridgewater's age. The former first-round pick celebrated his 31st birthday last month, making him just two years older than Goff, and nearly a decade younger than Rodgers.
In his career, Goff has missed minimal time. He had to sit out the season finale while with the Rams in 2020 due to a thumb injury. And two different injuries (oblique and knee) plus a case of COVID sidelined him for three games in 2021, his first with Detroit.
The Lions lost all three of those games, including one where replacement starter Tim Boyle threw for just 77 yards. Bridgewater, meanwhile, has a 33-32 record as a starter, including the 5-0 stretch Brunell referenced as a replacement in New Orleans during the 2019 season.
"I love having Teddy," Brunell said. "He's been great for Jared on game day, he's been great in the room, and he brings a lot of value to the quarterback room. And if called upon, I think we'd all be very comfortable if Teddy had to go in there. I love him to death. We want Jared upright and healthy and being our guy, but if necessary, Teddy would step in and do just fine."
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
@Justin_Rogers
"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
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A Detroit Lions fans' rooting guide for Week 14 of the 2023 season
Justin Rogers
The Detroit News
Allen Park — It's that time of the year when the NFL sends out a weekly email highlighting the various playoff-clinching scenarios. This week, three NFC teams have a chance to snag a postseason berth, some possibilities more convoluted than others. The 9-3 Detroit Lions are still just shy of entering that conversation, but with a win in Chicago this Sunday, they'll clear a path to secure their spot to the dance the following weekend.
But what else should Lions fans want to see this week that will better their team's place in the standings? Don't worry; we've got you covered with our first rooting guide of the season.
▶ Minnesota Vikings at Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
It's not fair to suggest the other 1 p.m. games don't matter to the Lions, because there are a half-dozen teams in the mix as potential wild-card opponents. Still, it's a little too early to suggest which of those would be the best draw. Personally, We're all for a matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, with former quarterback Matthew Stafford coming to town for Ford Field's first playoff game, while also understanding those who prefer a different scenario.
That said, things heat up for Detroit's playoff chase in the 4 p.m. window, starting with Minnesota, one of two challengers who are three games back in the NFC North race (with two head-to-head matchups with the Lions remaining).
After piecing together a five-game winning streak, the Vikings have cooled off with two straight losses. But they're expected to get back superstar receiver Justin Jefferson this week against a Raiders team that's also slumping, after a brief rebound following the firing of coach Josh McDaniels.
Clearly, a Raiders win could take some pressure off the Lions, but probably not too much, since the Vikings are no longer the biggest threat to the North's crown.
▶ Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
The 49ers reminded everyone last week why they should strongly be considered the NFC favorites, thrashing the conference-leading Eagles on the road. Even with that win, they remain a game back of the No. 1 seed, due to a mid-season lull, but it's obvious where they have their hopes pinned.
Right now, they hold the tiebreaker edge over the Lions for the second seed. That matters if the Eagles hold on to the top spot and both Lions and 49ers advance past the Wild-Card stage, because it would force the Lions to make a long trip out west in the second round. So ideally, the 49ers get upset here by a division rival and stumble on Christmas Day against another Super Bowl contender, the Baltimore Ravens. That opens the door for the Lions to claim the No. 2 seed with a 4-1 finish.
But if San Francisco wins, it's not the worst thing in the world. It could be a contributing factor to costing Seattle a playoff berth. When presented with the problems they've given Detroit the past two seasons, that could be a blessing in disguise.
▶ Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, 8:20 p.m.
Realistically, the No. 1 seed is a pipedream. Among other factors, the Lions would likely need to win out, which is no small task. But since a division winner gets a higher seed than another division's runner-up, regardless of record, there's no reason not to root for that longshot, even if cheering for the Cowboys feels wrong.
And if the race at the top of the NFC gets muddied enough, the Lions still have an opportunity to grab the tiebreaker from the Cowboys, when the teams meet head-to-head later this month.
▶ Green Bay Packers at New York Giants, Monday, 8:15 p.m.
More than the Vikings, the Packers are now the Lions' biggest threat to stopping a three-decade division title drought.
Green Bay is red hot, having won three straight, including a Thanksgiving Day victory in Detroit. More concerning is their tissue-soft remaining schedule, with a home matchup against Tampa Bay and a road trip to Minnesota being the biggest hurdles down the stretch.
Players and coaches will never hesitate to tell you winning in this league is difficult, but there's a realistic possibility of the Packers running the table. The Giants certainly aren't good, but they have a little something going, having won two straight. They could do the Lions a huge solid by halting the Packers' late-season momentum.
▶ Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints, Sunday, 1 p.m.
The Saints remain in the playoff hunt, a game out of the NFC South lead, but you'd prefer to see the 1-11 Panthers get the win here. Why? Because they're in position to get the No. 1 draft pick in 2024, which they'll be shipping to the Bears as part of a trade ahead of last year's draft.
Maybe it's a foregone conclusion, thanks to the Steelers, who embarrassingly provided the Patriots and Cardinals their third wins the past two weeks, allowing the Panthers to open a two-game "lead" at the bottom of the standings. And look, there are no guarantees, even with the top choice, that Chicago will finally land the franchise's long-sought solution at quarterback. Still, it would be better to let the consensus best prospect end up elsewhere.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
@Justin_Rogers
"I hope to see the Lions in the Super Bowl before I die"
My friend Ken LComment
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