Detroit Lions Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

Lions QB Matthew Stafford Preparing To Play Tomorrow

December 19th, 2020 at 11:21am CST by Ben Levine

In a sudden turn of events, it sounds like Matthew Stafford will play tomorrow after all. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Lions quarterback is “preparing to play” against the Titans.

Stafford landed on the injury report this week after suffering a hard hit from Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark that knocked him out of last week’s loss. The rib injury forced the veteran to miss practice on Wednesday and Thursday, and he earned the ‘questionable’ designation after putting in limited work on Friday (per ESPN’s Michael Rothstein).

There was initial pessimism surrounding Stafford’s injury, and interim head coach Darrell Bevell said the team would likely wait to make a decision about their quarterback’s status.

“This may or may not be a workout situation,” Bevell said. “Obviously, the conversation of what he’s doing kind of on the side before we even get that far. But if we need to have a workout Sunday morning, then we’ll end up doing that as well.”

The former first-overall pick didn’t miss a single game between the 2011 and 2018 seasons. His 2019 campaign was cut short due to a back injury, limiting him to only eight games. Despite two separate stints on the COVID-19 list, Stafford has managed to play in each of Detroit’s 13 games this season. The 32-year-old has completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 3,522 yards, 22 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

While it sounds like Stafford will be taking the field tomorrow, two key members of the offense will not. Wideout Kenny Golladay will miss his seventh consecutive game with a hip injury, while center Frank Ragnow is out as he recovers from a fractured throat.

Kenny Golladay Wants To Remain With Lions

December 18th, 2020 at 3:06pm CST by Rory Parks

Fresh off his first career Pro Bowl selection, Lions WR Kenny Golladay was hoping to secure a monster contract extension this year, or at least to build upon his 2019 successes and set himself up well for unrestricted free agency in 2021. Unfortunately, injuries have limited him to just five games this season, and he has not played since November 1.

With Detroit out of playoff contention, interim HC Darrell Bevell is considering shutting Golladay down for the year. “I think that’s a conversation that’s coming,” Bevell said (via Justin Rogers of the Detroit News). “We’re really trying to get him back and he really wants to play, he wants to be in there, but that’s a conversation of where are we at in the season that it might come to that.”

Some skeptics have wondered if that’s what Golladay has wanted all along. Although a report in early September suggested that the Lions and their star receiver were closing in on a long-term deal, that obviously has not happened, and it would be hard to blame Golladay for making a business decision and protecting himself from further injury instead of jeopardizing his health in a lost season.

But Bevell and Golladay both insist that is not the case. Bevell said, “[t]he good thing for me is I’m in here every day. I get to see what he’s doing. I get to see what he’s putting his body through to try to get back for us and for his teammates. He’s doing that and that’s really what I can say.” Golladay added that he sustained a hip flexor strain during Detroit’s November 1 battle with the Colts and suffered a minor setback in rehab, but he has been doing everything in his power to return to the field.

The 27-year-old said he remains committed to the Lions and wants to stay in Detroit for the long haul, despite the fact that the club will be looking for a new head coach and GM in 2021 and could move on from QB Matthew Stafford. However, he knows that might not be in the cards.

After all, contract negotiations are on hold since the team fired former GM Bob Quinn, and the Lions will need to clear significant salary cap space to either hit Golladay with the franchise tag or hand him a multi-year pact worth $18-20MM per season, which is what he stands to make on the open market (assuming he is fully healthy by then). Still, he is hopeful something can get done when a new regime is brought in.

“You know, [the Lions] believed in me,” Golladay said. … “If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out. Then I go somewhere else and ball out and play. But like I said, I’m a loyal person and of course I want to be here. I started my career here.”

Lions To Interview Scott Pioli

December 17th, 2020 at 2:01pm CST by Zachary Links

Former exec and current NFL analyst Scott Pioli will interview for the Lions GM job next week, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Although Pioli has relocated from the front office to the broadcast booth, he offers 27 years of league experience with the Patriots, Chiefs, and Falcons.

Pioli’s last stop in Atlanta ended abruptly in the spring of 2019. He had been serving as an assistant GM and top lieutenant to GM Thomas Dimitroff before leaving on his own accord. At least, that was Pioli’s account. Prior to that, Pioli was the Chiefs’ general manager for four seasons. The multi-time Executive of the Year award-winner may have been looking to get back to running his own front office. It’s also possible that the Falcons were looking to shake things up before their full-on renovation that followed.

Interestingly, his former Atlanta boss will also be interviewing for the role. In addition to Dimitroff and Pioli, the Lions have former Texans GM Rick Smith and ESPN’s Louis Riddick on the docket.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/17/20

December 17th, 2020 at 12:03pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:

Cincinnati Bengals

Signed: QB Kyle Shurmur

Dallas Cowboys

Signed: C Adam Redmond

Detroit Lions

Signed: CB Tramaine Brock (story)
Released: CB Dee Virgin

Miami Dolphins

Placed on COVID-19 list: DE Tyshun Render

San Francisco 49ers

Signed: TE Chase Harrell
Placed on IR: WR Shawn Poindexter

Seattle Seahawks

Signed: OT Andrew Jones, OT Wyatt Miller

Lions To Interview Thomas Dimitroff

December 17th, 2020 at 9:40am CST by Zachary Links

The Lions are set to interview former Falcons exec Thomas Dimitroff for their GM vacancy, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The two-time Executive of the Year was dismissed earlier this year, putting him out of the NFL for the first time in a long time.

Dimitroff is the third known candidate to interview for the post, following former Texans GM Rick Smith and ESPN’s Louis Riddick. Dimitroff — who was one of the league’s longest-tenured GMs before he was fired — helped build the team that reached the Super Bowl following the 2016 season. He’s also responsible for drafting franchise pillars including Matt Ryan and Julio Jones. But, on the whole, many have questioned his scouting track record.

The Lions are expected to cast a wide net, so their search will not be limited to just these three candidates. Their pool may also include former Giants general manager Jerry Reese, who has the support of Ford family advisors.

Lions Sign Tramaine Brock To Practice Squad

December 17th, 2020 at 9:29am CST by Zachary Links

The Lions signed cornerback Tramaine Brock to the practice squad, per a club announcement. To make room, they dropped fellow corner Dee Virgin.

Brock began the year with the Jaguars, where he stood as one of the few veteran players on the roster. Then, just before he could find out what this newfangled Tik Tok was all about, the grizzled 32-year-old landed on IR. The Jags released Brock in early September, putting him on the open market.

Brock has been off the field for the past few months, but he may get an opportunity to retake the field with fresh legs. That could happen as soon as this weekend, since Darryl Roberts reaggravated his hip injury.

At one point in time, Brock was regarded as one of the league’s better slot corners. He might not be the same player today, but he does offer experience with 117 career games and 56 starts.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/16/20

December 16th, 2020 at 5:08pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of the latest practice squad moves here:

Baltimore Ravens

Signed: DT Braxton Hoyett, WR Gary Jennings
Released: RB Tommy Bohanon

Cleveland Browns

Signed: RB John Kelly

Detroit Lions

Signed: RB Jordan Scarlett, QB Jordan Ta’amu
Released: P Arryn Siposs

Houston Texans

Signed: LS Anthony Kukwa

Indianapolis Colts

Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: S Ibraheim Campbell

Jacksonville Jaguars:

Signed: C Evan Boehm

Las Vegas Raiders

Signed: WR Marcell Ateman

Miami Dolphins

Signed: WR Andre Patton

New England Patriots

Signed: OL Earl Watford
Released: DB Dayan Lake

Philadelphia Eagles

Signed: S Blake Countess

San Francisco 49ers

Released: DL Willie Henry

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Signed: WR Jaydon Mickens

Lions To Interview Louis Riddick

December 16th, 2020 at 12:46pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions plan to interview Louis Riddick for their GM vacancy on Friday, a source tells NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Riddick, who currently works for ESPN, last worked in the NFL in 2013 in the Eagles’ front office.

Riddick is now the first known out-of-house candidate to be interviewed by the Lions. He’s best known for his time in Philly from 2005-13, including his run as the Eagles’ director of player personnel from 2010-13. Before that, he broke into the scouting world with the [Washington Football team] from 2001-04, so his executive tenure has come entirely in the NFC East.

The former NFL defensive back could now transition to the NFC North, though the Lions are expected to cast a wide net in their search. Their pool of candidates may include former Giants general manager Jerry Reese. Reese, who was fired by the G-Men in 2017, has the support from advisors to the Ford family and his predecessor Ernie Accorsi.

Everson Griffen Tests Positive For COVID-19

December 12th, 2020 at 4:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Lions placed Everson Griffen on their reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday and did so because of a positive test, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

An in-season trade acquisition, Griffen is now set to miss the next two Lions games. The veteran defensive end was one of three players whose most recent coronavirus test came back positive, joining Dolphins running back Myles Gaskin and Rams linebacker Jachai Polite.

Playing on a one-year deal, Griffen has five sacks this season. He has recorded 2.5 of those in his five games with the Lions. Should Griffen avoid complications from the season-defining virus, he could return in Week 16 to make a final impression for another run at free agency. Griffen is a half-sack away from 80 in his 11-year career.

This will leave the Lions thin on the edge, with Trey Flowers and rookie Julian Okwara on IR. Detroit also is down cornerbacks Desmond Trufant and Jeff Okudah. Griffen, however, is the only player on the team’s COVID list.