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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

XFL Blocks Lions From Signing Josh Johnson

November 25th, 2019 at 12:46pm CST by Zachary Links

The XFL blocked the Lions from signing quarterback Josh Johnson, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Johnson, who was assigned to the Los Angeles Wildcats last week, cannot get out of his commitment without the permission of the fledgling league. 

XFL execs, including owner Vince McMahon and CEO Oliver Luck, have spoken about the idea of partnering with the NFL in some capacity to serve as a breeding ground for talent. At the same time, the XFL is understandably protective of its top talents. Johnson, who has been signed by 13 NFL teams over the course of his career, offers the kind of name recognition that can’t be easily replaced.

This isn’t Johnson’s first rodeo in professional football outside of the NFL. He was also a part of the UFL and the short-lived AAF, so he’s encountered similar situations before.

Meanwhile, the Lions will continue to search for quarterback support in the wake of Matthew Stafford‘s injury. Stafford wants to keep playing, but the Lions are reportedly thinking about shutting him down for the year.

Lions Notes: Patricia, Pasqualoni, Quinn

November 25th, 2019 at 11:04am CST by Rory Parks

The Lions suffered a bad loss to the now 2-9 Redskins on Sunday, which has led to a great deal of speculation as to the future of the organization’s leaders. Here’s the latest from the Motor City:

  • Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports suggested that “there could be some changes afoot” if the Lions do not have a strong performance against the division-rival Bears on Thanksgiving (Twitter link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). La Canfora made those remarks during the CBS Postgame Show and did not elaborate, but it seems that a shakeup to head coach Matt Patricia‘s staff could be in the cards, even if Patricia himself is safe at least until the end of the 2019 season.
  • Speaking of Patricia, the second-year HC was oddly evasive when asked who was calling the defensive plays against the Redskins, as Birkett writes in a full-length piece. It appeared that Patricia was calling the plays, and though he gave defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni a vote of confidence as a play-caller last month, the head coach himself appears to have taken the reins and is simply trying to refrain from confirming that publicly. In any event, the defense — which has Patricia’s fingerprints all over it — ranks near the bottom of the league in most major categories, and that’s not a good omen for Patricia’s future.
  • The club may not fire the former Patriots DC during the season, as his players still seem to play hard for him and the roster has been hit hard by injury, but as Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes, Lions ownership has to consider all options this offseason. The team could fire Patricia, GM Bob Quinn, or both, as neither man has done much to inspire confidence that they are the right people to lead the Lions on a long-term basis.
  • Speculatively, given Pasqualoni’s apparently diminished role, the changes that La Canfora references above could mean that Pasqualoni is shown the door if the Lions fail to perform well against Chicago.
  • Though the Lions’ playoff hopes are long gone, QB Matthew Stafford still wants to return to the field this year.

NFL Workout Updates: 11/23/19

November 23rd, 2019 at 10:00pm CST by Marc Delucchi

Here’s the most recent updates from the workout circuit:

Cleveland Browns

  • S Jake Thieneman

Detroit Lions

New York Jets

Injury Notes: Ravens, Hockenson, Jones

November 23rd, 2019 at 8:12pm CST by Marc Delucchi

Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce is doubtful to play in Monday Night’s game against the Rams with an ankle injury, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Peirce started Baltimore’s first nine games before going down. Veteran Domato Peko Sr. will replace Peirce in the lineup.

Also via Zrebiec, wide receiver Chris Moore, offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, and offensive guard Ben Powers all remain questionable with injuries of their own. Stanley, who is dealing with an ankle issue of his own, is the only starter of the three, but he would be a substantial loss as the team’s starting right tackle. Moore has started one game this season and played sparingly, while Powers has yet to take the field.

Here’s more Saturday notes on the injury front around the NFL:

  • Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson was added to the injury report as questionable with a shoulder injury, according to a team press release. The eight overall pick in this year’s draft practiced all week without any reported issues so the news comes as a surprise. Hockenson has split time at tight end this year with Jesse James, but represents a far superior pass-catching option for quarterback Jeff Driskel. Hockenson has made 26 receptions and recorded 349 yards, while James has only caught 8 of 15 targets and gained 64 yards.
  • The Broncos signed cornerback Cyrus Jones last week and he was a healthy scratch against the Vikings. Even if the team wanted to activate him tomorrow, though, Jones has been ruled out with an illness, according to Aric DiLalla of Broncos.com. Jones was a second-round selection by the Patriots in 2016, but was released by New England earlier this season. He then jumped between the Ravens and Patriots practice squads before signing in Denver.

Matthew Stafford Wants To Return This Season

November 21st, 2019 at 7:48pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Although reports on Sunday indicated Matthew Stafford could miss six more weeks while dealing with fractured bones in his back, the veteran Lions quarterback says he’d still like to return this season, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com.

“Because this is what I do,” Stafford said when asked why he wants to play this year. “I understand your question, but this is what I love to do. I love playing football. I appreciate all the hard work that all the guys in this locker room and in this organization put into going out there and trying to win games on Sunday and I love being a part of that.”

“It’s tough for me to sit there without the pads on and not be able to impact the game on the field the way I’m used to doing,” Stafford said. “That’s driving me to get back out there, and whenever we all deem it’s the right time for me to get back out there, I’ll be out there.”

Depending on how his recovery goes, Stafford could potentially be available for a game or two at the end of the regular season. Sitting at 3-6-1 and last place in the NFC North, Detroit has less than a 1% chance of earning a playoff berth, per FiveThirtyEight.com, so it seems unlikely the Lions’ decision-makers would allow Stafford to return to the field with nothing on the line.

Stafford had started 136 consecutive games before missing Detroit’s Week 10 contest again the Bears earlier this month. Through eight starts, the 31-year-old Stafford had thrown for nearly 2,500 yards, 19 touchdowns, and five interceptions while ranking eighth in ESPN’s Total Quarterback Rating.

Lions Work Out Fullbacks

November 20th, 2019 at 9:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Lions Activate DE Austin Bryant From IR

November 20th, 2019 at 2:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of several Clemson defensive linemen drafted this year, Austin Bryant is in line to make his NFL debut. The Lions activated Bryant from IR on Wednesday.

The defensive end will take the roster spot of fullback Nick Bawden, whom the Lions placed on IR. A foot injury will shelve Bawden.

Bryant joined first-rounders Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence on Clemson’s loaded D-line last season. Despite registering 17 sacks and 30.5 tackles for loss last season, Bryant fell to the fourth round. The rookie suffered a torn pectoral muscle last November but played through it. He did not undergo surgery until January, affecting his stock somewhat. But the Lions will soon see what they have in the two-time national champion defender.

This will be Bawden’s second straight season on IR. The 2018 seventh-round pick missed all of last season because of an ACL tear. He played sparingly this season but served as the team’s fullback.

Matthew Stafford Could Miss Six Weeks

November 17th, 2019 at 11:10am CST by Rory Parks

Lions QB Matthew Stafford has fractured bones in his back, and as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com writes, the injury could keep Stafford sidelined for six more weeks.

Schefter says Stafford will not necessarily miss the next six games, but the fact that it’s a six-week injury underscores just how much pain Stafford was playing through before team doctors shut him down for last week’s game against the Bears. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com also hears that the 2009 No. 1 overall pick could miss an additional six games, though the plan is for him to have another scan this week to get a more accurate timeline. Per Rapoport, there is a chance Stafford could return for next week’s matchup against the Redskins, but that doesn’t sound particularly likely.

What neither Schefter nor Rapoport say is that the Lions could choose to keep Stafford sidelined for the rest of the year if Detroit’s playoff hopes continue to fade. The Lions are currently 3-5-1 and are in last place in the NFC North, so even with a healthy Stafford, the club would be a longshot to qualify for the postseason. Assuming Detroit can’t make up any ground with Jeff Driskel under center, the team would be wise to not jeopardize Stafford’s long-term health for no reason.

Of course, head coach Matt Patricia could be on the hot seat, so he doubtlessly wants Stafford to return as quickly as possible. But considering how well Stafford has played this year even with the injury, preserving him for 2020 may be in the team’s best interests.

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