Detroit Free Press

Carlos Monarrez Detroit Free Press Published 1:13 PM EDT Sep 12, 2020 “Please keep politics out of sports!” “Be fair to both views.” “Who cares?” These were some of the — ahem — nicer comments I received in emails last week after I wrote an article about Calvin Johnson. The former Detroit Lions receiver joined

Carlos Monarrez Detroit Free Press Published 6:01 AM EDT Sep 12, 2020 Few people are giving the Detroit Lions much of a chance this season. You would be hard-pressed to find many prognosticators who see something other than an NFC North basement finish for a team coming off a 3-12-1 season. Dave Birkett’s picks: They

Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press Published 7:39 PM EDT Sep 11, 2020 The Houston Texans stayed in their locker room for the playing of the national anthem. The Miami Dolphins explained in a viral video they plan to do the same. The Kansas City Chiefs took the field for the anthem, but one of their

Dave Birkett, Carlos Monarrez, Jeff Seidel and Shawn Windsor Detroit Free Press Published 6:14 PM EDT Sep 11, 2020 Our Free Press sports writers and columnists make their predictions on who many wins the Detroit Lions get in 2020, and whether they’ll qualify for the new expanded playoff format: Dave Birkett: 9-7 The reason: Back in

Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press Published 5:18 PM EDT Sep 11, 2020 The Detroit Lions will be without their biggest free agent acquisition for Sunday’s season opener against the Chicago Bears, and likely without their best wide receiver, too. The Lions ruled right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai out for Sunday because of a foot injury, and

Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press Published 12:50 PM EDT Sep 11, 2020 Detroit Lions (0-0) vs. Chicago Bears (0-0) The coaches: Lions’ Matt Patricia (9-19-1 overall, 9-19-1 with Lions; Bears’ Matt Nagy (17-10 overall, 17-10 with Bears) Key matchups: Lions RT Halapoulivaati Vaitai vs. Bears OLB Khalil Mack; Bears WR Allen Robinson vs. Lions CB Desmond

Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press Published 11:51 AM EDT Sep 11, 2020 Two key starters will miss or be severely limited in practice for the Detroit Lions on Friday, putting their status for Sunday’s season opener against the Chicago Bears in question. Wide receiver Kenny Golladay and right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai did not practice Thursday

Jeff Seidel Detroit Free Press Published 6:00 AM EDT Sep 11, 2020 One person says: The Big Ten did the right thing and canceled its football season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Another person says: It was freakin’ idiotic. High school football teams across Michigan are about to start their season, so why can’t the

Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press Published 6:01 AM EDT Sep 11, 2020 Ten years after he presided over the most famous touchdown-that-wasn’t in NFL history, retired referee Gene Steratore has an admission to make. “I saw the play in live speed and the first reaction would be what the reaction I think would be for

Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press Published 9:10 AM EDT Sep 11, 2020 Ten years after he presided over the most famous touchdown-that-wasn’t in NFL history, retired referee Gene Steratore has an admission to make. “I saw the play in live speed and the first reaction would be what the reaction I think would be for

Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press Published 7:36 PM EDT Sep 10, 2020 T.J. Hockenson gave a sideways glance and flashed a big smile. Three weeks after admitting he was still favoring the ankle he injured late last season, the second-year tight end expressed no reservations about his health heading into Sunday’s season opener against the

Carlos Monarrez Detroit Free Press Published 6:23 PM EDT Sep 10, 2020 Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Williams made an assertion Thursday about the much-maligned Chicago Bears quarterback that’s bound to raise some eyebrows, if not invite outright ridicule. Mitchell Trubisky was benched late last season, the Bears declined his fifth-year option this year and he

Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press Published 5:51 PM EDT Sep 10, 2020 The closer the Detroit Lions get to Sunday’s season opener against the Chicago Bears, the more likely it seems Adrian Peterson will play a significant role on offense. Peterson laughed Thursday when asked if the Lions told him he could be their starting

Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press Published 1:55 PM EDT Sep 10, 2020 Matthew Stafford’s favorite target is dealing with a new hamstring injury three days before the Detroit Lions open the season against the Chicago Bears. Lions coach Matt Patricia said leading receiver Kenny Golladay suffered a hamstring injury in practice Wednesday that landed him

Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press Published 6:00 AM EDT Sep 10, 2020 Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett provides his game-by-game predictions for the 2020 Detroit Lions:  Sept. 13: vs. Bears The Bears are going with Mitchell Trubisky in what can only be a Lions-related move considering how well he played against them last year

Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press Published 6:32 AM EDT Sep 10, 2020 When Rod Wood and his wife, Susan, went out for a recent dinner at the Renaissance Center, the Detroit Lions president got a glimpse of what the not-too-distant future might look like when it comes to attending NFL games. Everyone who enters the

Carlos Monarrez Detroit Free Press Published 6:39 PM EDT Sep 9, 2020 A little more than two months after Kerryon Johnson turned 10 years old, Adrian Peterson made his NFL debut and rushed for 103 yards for the Minnesota Vikings. So yes, it was a little strange for Johnson to sit in the same meeting

Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press Published 2:02 PM EDT Sep 9, 2020 As part of new COVID-19 protocols, the NFL changed its roster restrictions this season to allow every team the ability to protect four players on its expanded 16-man practice squad. The idea behind the new rule is to give teams insurance for a coronavirus outbreak,

Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press Published 6:02 AM EDT Sep 9, 2020 The 2020 NFL season will begin Thursday, and the Detroit Lions open their season on Sunday. Here’s where all 32 teams rank to start the campaign:  1. Chiefs As long as Patrick Mahomes stays healthy, the Chiefs will be the favorites to repeat

Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press Published 6:00 AM EDT Sep 9, 2020 With the 2019 season upon us, beat writer Dave Birkett takes a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions defense and special teams. Defensive line It’s always an interesting exercise to look back at last year’s season preview and see how things have changed.