Detroit Free Press

He was inactive in Week 1, and has been a bit player since. But rookie defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike insists he is not frustrated with his role on the Detroit Lions defense. “You just got to have a fifth-grade mentality,” Onwuzurike said Thursday. “You got to come in wanting to learn and that’s what it’s

The Detroit Lions have scored 17 or fewer points in four straight games. They’ve been shut out in three different halves this season. And just six teams have committed more turnovers. In order to jumpstart the offense, first-year coach Dan Campbell said the Lions might need to cut down the wordiness of their play calls. “What

Taylor Decker took only walk-through reps in his return to practice Wednesday, but the Detroit Lions plan to slowly integrate him into team drills this week. Decker, the Lions starting left tackle since 2016, has not played since injuring his left hand in a pass rush drill days before a season-opening loss to the San

My first full season as an NFL beat writer was in 2008, and it was about at this point in the year when jokes started flying about the Detroit Lions going 0-16. The Lions lost their fifth game that season to the Minnesota Vikings, when Dan Orlovsky ran out of the back of the end

Taylor Decker practiced Wednesday for the first time since he injured his left hand in a pass-rush drill five weeks ago, but Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said there is no guarantee the left tackle will be on the field for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. “We’ll just see where Decker goes and how he

Detroit Lions Dan Campbell was an assistant with the New Orleans Saints, across state in Louisiana, when Joe Burrow led LSU to a national championship. “He’s a legend down there,” Campbell said Wednesday. “I mean, LSU and you win a national championship, he can walk on water down there.” Burrow isn’t quite performing miracles at

Frank Ragnow did not want to undergo toe surgery, but in the end, it was the best thing for him. Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday that Ragnow initially was reluctant to go undergo a procedure that will sideline him for the rest of the season because he wanted to play again this fall. “He feels

My first full season as an NFL beat writer was in 2008, and it was about at this point in the year when jokes started flying about the Detroit Lions going 0-16. The Lions lost their fifth game that season to the Minnesota Vikings, when Dan Orlovsky ran out of the back of the end

Turnovers have been an issue for Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff this season, and really for much of his career. Goff threw a career-high 16 interceptions in 2019 with the Los Angeles Rams, and committed 10 turnovers in one four-game stretch last season. Goff’s penchant for mistakes was a big reason the Rams soured on

It has been a month since Tyrell Williams took a helmet-to-helmet hit from San Francisco 49ers safety Jaquiski Tartt, and the Detroit Lions receiver still is dealing with concussion symptoms. Lions coach Dan Campbell said in his weekly interview Tuesday on WXYT- FM (97.1) that Williams is not close to returning from the brain injury that has

The Detroit Lions are getting some help for their struggling secondary — some help with famous bloodlines. The Lions are signing cornerback Mark Gilbert from the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad to their 53-man roster, ESPN reported Tuesday. Gilbert is the nephew of former All-Pro defensive lineman Sean GIlbert and the cousin of future Hall-of-Fame cornerback

Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow will miss the rest of the 2021 season after opting to undergo toe surgery, a source familiar with his decision told the Free Press on Tuesday. Ragnow made the decision after visiting Dr. Robert Anderson on Monday. He is expected to undergo the procedure this week. Ragnow suffered a turf

Abraham Lincoln cried when his rival, Stephen A. Douglas died. George Washington cried. So, too, did Dwight D. Eisenhower, both as they contemplated loss during war. Walker Cronkite, the iconic anchorman, cried, on air, after John F. Kennedy was assassinated.  And Jon Stewart cried, also on air, the day his “Daily Show” returned after 9/11. DAVE BIRKETT: Dan Campbell is

When Taylor Decker returns from injured reserve to practice this week, he likely will find himself at a familiar position. Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday that his tentative plans are to keep Decker at left tackle and move rookie Penei Sewell back to right tackle once Decker is healthy enough to play. MORE

After an emotional loss on Sunday to the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell will address the media on Monday afternoon at 2:15 p.m. Campbell will be closing the chapter on Week 5 and transitioning into Week 6 where they will face the Cincinnati Bengals (1 p.m. on Fox). The Bengals (3-2) have

The Detroit Lions have failed to muster any semblance of a deep passing game in the season’s first five weeks, and now they could be without their top vertical threat for the rest of the season. Quintez Cephus suffered a broken collarbone in Sunday’s 19-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and will undergo surgery that

Dan Campbell is genuine. It’s one of his most endearing qualities as head coach. There is no pretense about Campbell, no charade. What you see is who he is, and if you’ve followed the NFL long enough, you know for people in positions of power that isn’t always the case. Campbell isn’t the first NFL

Show Caption Hide Caption Detroit Lions fans learning a lot about team with another tough loss Free Press sports writers Dave Birkett and Jeff Seidel break down the Detroit Lions’ 19-17 loss to the Vikings on Oct. 10, 2021, in Minneapolis. Dave Birkett and Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press MINNEAPOLIS — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell

MINNEAPOLIS — Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett breaks down the Detroit Lions’ 19-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and looks at players who helped and hurt their stock Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium: Stock up LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin: Maybin has seen the most extensive defensive action of his career the past three weeks, since the

MINNEAPOLIS — Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett grades the Detroit Lions in their 19-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Quarterback Turnovers have killed the Lions this season, and Jared Goff has been the primary culprit. Goff committed his sixth and seventh turnovers of the season Sunday, losing a fumble on