Detroit Free Press

The mailbag is coming a day later than promised because I spent my Tuesday talking to a couple former members of the Detroit Lions medical staff about their experiences dealing with players who went through situations similar to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Hamlin collapsed on the field when he went into cardiac arrest in

Aaron Glenn still is haunted by what he saw at the Pontiac Silverdome that day. Glenn was a fourth-year defensive back playing for the New York Jets in 1997 when Detroit Lions linebacker Reggie Brown, Glenn’s former college teammate at Texas A&M, suffered a career-ending spinal injury. Brown was injured when a Jets lineman fell

Todd Wash gathered his defensive linemen before their position group meeting Wednesday and asked everyone who’d been in the playoffs to raise their hand. There was Romeo Okwara, who had a sack in his lone playoff appearance in 2016 with the New York Giants, and Isaiah Buggs, who was on the Pittsburgh Steelers teams that

It’s scary, Jason Cabinda was saying, scary for him, his teammates, their families, their coaches. “Everyone’s been talking about it the last couple days,” said the Detroit Lions fullback. “I’m sure there are plenty of guys who took their own time to say their own prayers. When I first saw it happen, I said a

The first thing the Detroit Lions did when they returned to work Wednesday was pray. Lions coach Dan Campbell called co-director of player engagement Sean Pugh to the front of the meeting room and had Pugh, an offensive lineman at Western Kentucky who became a pastor in his post-playing career, lead a team prayer for

Kent Falb was not watching the Buffalo Bills-Cincinnati Bengals game Monday until someone called and told him to turn on his TV. Dr. Terry Lock had no idea Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during the game until he heard the news on the radio Tuesday morning. For both men, learning of the

“Come on Baker, you got this!” OK, everything about this is surreal. The Detroit Lions will head Green Bay on Sunday with the playoffs on the line in freakin’ January. Just a few hours earlier, Lions fans will be cheering like crazy for Baker Mayfield and the L.A. Rams, who need to beat Seattle to

Monday night, the NFL world stopped when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed in the first quarter of the game against the Bengals in Cincinnati. Medical personnel had to use CPR and a defibrillator on the field after Hamlin reportedly suffered cardiac arrest. As he was being worked on, Hamlin’s teammates and opponents watched and

The last week of the regular season means the last edition of power rankings, and one final prediction from me on who wins the NFL’s major awards. The Detroit Lions have legitimate candidates for Defensive Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year, and if they beat the Green Bay Packers on Sunday and

Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell looked like a volcano ready to explode. Six days before the biggest game of his tenure in Detroit, lava was burning behind his eyes. Anticipation and excitement, raw energy and adrenaline were twitching through his arms, and his voice rumbled while talking about the Lions game Sunday against the Green

The Detroit Lions could be getting a key defensive player back in their lineup for Sunday’s must-win game against the Green Bay Packers. Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday safety DeShon Elliott hopes to return after a two-game absence due to a dislocated shoulder. “Look, he wants to go,” Campbell said. “He’s improving and we’re

Dan Campbell walked up the podium to the lectern for his weekly day-after-the-game news conference Monday, contorted the microphone to his liking and fidgeted with the rolled up left sleeve on his team-issued long-sleeve shirt. Six days before the biggest game of his coaching career, Campbell could hardly contain his excitement to get on the

[embedded content] It’s Monday so that means it’s time to hear from Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell. Campbell will no doubt be feeling good after a dominant win over the division-rival Chicago Bears. The Lions’ offense rolled up more than 500 yards of offense on the lowly Bears as Jared Goff went 21 of

It’s Monday so that means it’s time to hear from Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell. Campbell will no doubt be feeling good after a dominant win over the division-rival Chicago Bears. The Lions’ offense rolled up more than 500 yards of offense on the lowly Bears as Jared Goff went 21 of 29 passing

It will be six years Saturday since the Detroit Lions played their last true survive-and-advance game, when they got drilled by the Seattle Seahawks in a wild card tilt where they barely looked like they belonged. Matthew Stafford started at quarterback for the Lions that game, Zach Zenner led the team in rushing and Russell

Free Press sports writer Evan Petzold looks at Detroit Lions players and coaches who helped their stock or hurt it after Sunday’s 41-10 win over the Chicago Bears at Ford Field: Six up LB James Houston: A pass-rushing specialist, Houston continues to build on an outstanding rookie campaign (despite not playing until Nov. 12). Against

The 2022 calendar year kept the status quo for many of our teams. It was the third straight year that none of the major pro teams in the Motor City — the Lions, Red Wings, Pistons or Tigers — reached the postseason in their respective teams. But for the second straight year, the Michigan football

Dan Campbell brought up the playoffs Sunday. He talked about the chance to qualify for the postseason next week in Green Bay. He also talked about winning a division title in the future and hosting playoff games. The Detroit Lions coach was obviously feeling good, and encouraged, after a 41-10 thumping of the Chicago Bears

Justin Fields ran all over the Detroit Lions in the first quarter. But then, the Lions finally contained him. A game with the potential for a shootout turned lopsided early in the second half. The Lions, from the second quarter on, shut down Fields and dominated the Bears in all facets Sunday, winning 41-10 in

The Detroit Lions did their part on Sunday by beating the Bears, 41-10, to improve to 8-8; they also got some help from their Great Lakes brethren from Cleveland as the Browns beat the Commanders, 24-10. That dropped Washington to 7-8-1, half a game behind the 8-8 Lions, with one game left for each team.