Yardbarker

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was among the hottest names in the head-coaching carousel during the 2024 NFL offseason.  After widespread belief that Johnson would land with the Washington Commanders as their next head coach, things took a drastic turn. Johnson opted to remain with the Lions to help the team push for a

Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates has been the talk of the town for Detroit Lions fans ever since he hit a walk off 64-yard field goal early on in the UFL season. He’s been the  number one guy on their special teams wish list ever since. It makes total sense that he should be linked

The ultimate objective for assistant coaches and coordinators in the NFL is to land a head coaching gig with an organization. It is not common to see them pass up such opportunities as and when they arise. However, Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, is an anomaly, as he had the chance

After finishing just short of reaching the Super Bowl a season ago, the Detroit Lions enter the 2024 campaign among the favorites to win it all. Here are three reasons why they’ll meet and perhaps surpass expectations. 1. The Lions aren’t underdogs anymore  After going 3-13 in 2021, Dan Campbell’s first season as head coach,

Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is on the books for the first time in his NFL career. The Lions announced on Friday that he has inked his rookie contract. The hosts of the 2024 NFL draft showed a willingness to double-dip at the cornerback spot with their first two selections. After adding Terrion Arnold on Day 1, the

The Detroit Lions announced they signed CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. to a rookie contract on Friday.  This leaves just one unsigned player from the Lions’ 2024 draft class: Round Player Pos. Note 1 Terrion Arnold CB   2 Ennis Rakestraw Jr. CB Signed 4 Giovanni Manu OT Signed 4 Sione Vaki S Signed 6 Mekhi

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was at one point viewed as the hottest head coaching candidate in the NFL, but he decided to remain at his current job for at least another season. And he is happy to explain why. Johnson was asked on Thursday about turning down head coaching opportunities earlier this offseason.

The Detroit Lions are going to be one of the most interesting teams to watch in the 2024 season. Part of the reason why is that they secured a lot of key players such as QB Jared Goff to long-term contract extensions. However, an important note here is the Lions also managed to retain OC

We continue our Detroit Lions start, bench and cut series this week with a look at the running backs. So far we’ve done receivers, the defensive line and the secondary. Let’s jump into it.  Start Since the Lions have a two headed monster in David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, there really isn’t a starter per

Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker is shaking off the rust as he enters his second season with the Detroit Lions.  Hooker, a third round selection by the Lions in the 2023 NFL Draft, didn’t appear in any games as a rookie last season while he recovered from the torn ACL that he suffered in

It’s been a lot of fun being optimistic about the Detroit Lions in the last few years. This team has drafted well, they’ve signed well , coached well and they’ve played well. We’re a long way away from the Matt Patricia days.  At this point, the Lions are expected to be one of the few

For a second straight offseason, Ben Johnson exited the coaching carousel to keep his offensive coordinator post in Detroit. After being viewed as the leader for the Panthers’ HC job in 2023, Johnson had been in position as the front-runner to replace Ron Rivera with the Commanders. Shortly after the NFC Championship Game, Commanders brass received word — while

This is not the first time that Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins and the Detroit Lions have been mentioned in the same sentence this offseason. Before the 2024 NFL Draft, Ringer analyst Ben Solak suggested that the Lions trade their 29th pick away for Higgins.  At the time that seemed like a good idea since everything

Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson surprised many when he decided to return to the Detroit Lions in the same role over the offseason. What was more shocking and controversial was how he made his decision before even interviewing for a Washington Commanders job with which he had been heavily linked. Johnson explained the move on Thursday.

David Montgomery still plays running back for the Detroit Lions. And he was their leading rusher last season. That statement is necessary because in seemingly the vast majority the national media attention drawn by the Lions after their 12-5 2023 campaign, one in which they won a division title and won a playoff game –

The Detroit Lions defense did not do a thing that Lions fans were really hoping they would do a lot of last year and that’s get to the quarterback and rack up sacks. It just didn’t happen a lot. The Lions finished the season with 40 sacks in 2023. That was good for 24th in

I’m one of those people that needs the TV on while I go through the process of falling asleep. Some do the white noise thing or music and then there’s the even weirder people who just fall asleep during silence. It’s TV for me.  I put on the Heisman 1997 30 for 30 documentary. It

Former Detroit Lions defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs was certainly a player that a lot of Lions fans held in regard during his time in Detroit. Even in 2023 when he spent must of the season benched. That regard is likely to turn to ire since Buggs is now facing two misdemeanor warrants for second-degree cruelty

Lions The Lions handed out massive extensions this offseason to QB Jared Goff, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, and RT Penei Sewell. Goff was thrilled to see his teammates earn what they deserve after playing major roles on the team. “For both of them, it’s amazing,” Goff said, via Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. “Penei

The Detroit Lions are a few days away from having some extra cap space allotted to them with the help of the Post-June 1st designation.  The Lions released cornerback Cameron Sutton after he allegedly assaulted his significant other and then went on the run for several weeks.  They released him in March with a Post-June