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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

Lions DL John Cominsky Tears MCL

July 30th, 2024 at 3:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Lions’ run of extensions continues with Taylor Decker — and potentially Alim McNeill — they will be without one of their defensive line regulars for an extended stretch. John Cominsky‘s injury at practice Tuesday will likely sideline him for the entire regular season.

A cart transported Cominsky off the practice field, and ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports the veteran D-lineman suffered a torn MCL. This injury is not necessarily a season-ender, but Cominsky is expected to miss months. The playoffs may be the target date, per Schefter. This will be a five- or six-month injury, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.

This is a setback to a Lions team that played Cominsky on 56% of its defensive snaps last season. Initially claimed off waivers — in an interesting transaction, as seven other teams submitted claims for the former Falcon — Cominsky has become a quality piece up front for the Lions. He played 60% of the team’s defensive snaps in 2022, rebounding after falling out of favor in Atlanta.

While Pro Football Focus slotted Cominsky 73rd among interior defenders, the advanced metrics site placed him in the top 30 at the position as a run defender. The former fourth-round pick has totaled six sacks and 20 QB hits during his two-season Detroit stay, faring well enough in 2022 to bring the Lions to re-sign him — at two years and $8.5MM — last March.

Working more as an interior presence, Cominsky leaves a void for a Lions team that does not yet have D.J. Reader back from the torn quad that ended his 2023 season in Cincinnati. McNeill remains the Lions’ top interior pass rusher, though the team did not see much from third-rounder Brodric Martin during a 28-snap rookie season. Levi Onwuzurike remains on the roster as well. Cominsky, however, trailed only McNeill for snaps by a Lions interior defender. This will require an adjustment for the defending NFC North champs.

Lions GM: Alim McNeill Extension Talks On Tap

July 30th, 2024 at 12:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

This offseason has brought significant contractual developments in Detroit. The team has authorized multiple record-setting extensions — for Penei Sewell and Amon-Ra St. Brown — and paid Jared Goff at a top-market rate. Taylor Decker joined in on the extension spree Monday, becoming a Bob Quinn-era draftee to be paid by the now-Brad Holmes-run team.

Sewell, St. Brown and Goff arrived during Holmes’ first year, and the recently extended GM has another of his 2021 investments on the radar to be a long-term Lion. After a rumor suggested Alim McNeill was in the Lions’ extension plans, Holmes confirmed that is the case.

“He’s another one that Dan [Campbell] and I have talked about it. He’s part of the foundation,” Holmes said of McNeill during an appearance on 97.1 The Ticket’s Costa & Jansen with Heather show (h/t Pride of Detroit). “He was part of our first draft, and again, we’ve gotten Penei done, we’ve gotten St. Brown done, and there’s plenty other guys within that draft class that have played key roles.

“But Alim, the way that he’s developed his game, he does everything right; he’s a total pro, and he’s extremely talented. So he’s another one that, it’s about time. So we’ll get talks going at some point and hopefully try to get something done.”

A third-round pick in 2021, McNeill has started 36 games for the Lions. The interior D-lineman has been Aidan Hutchinson‘s steadiest sidekick up front and took a step forward last season. McNeill totaled career-high numbers in sacks (five) and QB hits (10) while matching his 2022 tackle for loss total (six) despite a short IR stint due to an MCL injury. McNeill, 24, then added another sack in the NFC championship game.

Although McNeill did not rank in the top 20 in pass rush win rate, Pro Football Focus viewed him as one of the better DTs against the run and pass and slotted him seventh overall at the position. That marked a notable improvement from 2022. The Lions did just pay D.J. Reader in free agency, giving the former Texans and Bengals starter a two-year, $22MM deal. That contract, however, comes with $7.43MM guaranteed. Reader is due a $4MM roster bonus if he is on Detroit’s roster by Day 3 of the 2025 league year. Hutchinson will also need to be paid, becoming extension-eligible in 2025. While that will complicate matters for McNeill, Reader may not be in the picture by the time Hutchinson’s cap numbers — from an eventual extension — begin to spike.

The Lions’ above-referenced extensions stand to also make it challenging to complete a McNeill deal, and the NC State alum could increase his value with a quality contract year. It sounds like the Lions will attempt to pay him early, which would represent quite the early commitment to a single draft class. That said, Holmes’ 2021 investments played lead roles in the team completing a remarkable turnaround. McNeill being extended would round out one of the most memorable offseasons in Lions history.

Lions Extend LT Taylor Decker

July 29th, 2024 at 10:03pm CST by Adam La Rose

Lions general manager Brad Holmes announced during a Monday appearance on 97.1FM radio that left tackle Taylor Decker has signed an extension. His agent confirmed the news, noting this is a three-year, $60MM agreement.

Decker will receive $31.83MM guaranteed on his latest Lions pact. He was entering the final year of his deal, one which was set to pay him $13.7MM. The 29-year-old has now landed a raise, though, along with added long-term security. Decker will be on the books through 2027.

The former first-rounder has spent his entire eight-year career in Detroit, and he has started each of his 116 combined regular and postseason contests. Decker has remained a consistent performer with respect to pass protection in particular, and his PFF evaluations have been steady over the years. He received the ninth-highest overall grade amongst tackles in 2023 (81.1), his best showing in that regard to date.

Extension talks between Decker and the Lions began this spring, ahead of an offseason in which several big-money deals were worked out. The likes of quarterback Jared Goff, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and right tackle Penei Sewell each inked contracts at or near the top of their respective markets in recent months. Decker’s $20MM AAV will move him into seventh amongst blindside blockers, a notable move up the pecking order from where he previously was.

Decker recently expressed a positive outlook on where contract talks stood, so today’s news comes as little surprise. With his deal now official, both members of Detroit’s tackle tandem are in place for the foreseeable future. Any question of whether or not Sewell would transition to the left side (at least any time soon) will be put to rest. The Lions selected Canadian college product Giovanni Manu in the fourth round of the draft, but he projects as a long-term developmental option. With Decker on the books, Manu will not need to be rushed into action.

The Lions’ success in a number of categories last year stemmed in large part from the play of their offensive line. That unit will return Decker, Sewell, left guard Graham Glasgow and center Frank Ragnow. Former right guard starter Jonah Jackson departed in free agency, but Detroit added a capable replacement in the form of Kevin Zeitler. Expectations will therefore once again be high up front for the team in 2024 and beyond with Decker remaining on the blindside.

NFL Workout Rumors: Dawkins, Lions, Akers

July 28th, 2024 at 10:07pm CST by Ely Allen

The name of recent UFL linebacker Noah Dawkins is starting to make the rounds in NFL camps. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Dawkins worked out recently with both the Cowboys and Bears.

Dawkins’ introduction to the NFL came in 2019 when he signed with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent following an impressive pro day at The Citadel. He was signed off the team’s practice squad to the Buccaneers active roster, appearing in 10 games without recording any defensive statistics. In the next three years, he spent time with the Jets and Bears.

He spent this past UFL season with the Michigan Panthers, totaling 35 tackles and an interception. He wasn’t part of the initial rush of players from the UFL getting NFL interest, but he seems to be growing in popularity. In addition to his recent workouts, Wilson reports that Dawkins has garnered interest from multiple other teams.

Here are a couple other workout rumors from around the NFL:

  • The Lions entered training camp with one of the league’s more intriguing position battles as Michael Badgley and UFL phenom Jake Bates duked it out for the kicking job in Detroit. The incumbent Badgley was forced out of the battle when he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury on Thursday. Despite this setback, special teams coordinator Dave Fipp isn’t simply handing the job to Bates. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, Fipp and the Lions brought in a slew of legs to compete with Bates this summer including Matt Ammendola, Lucas Havrisik, Matt McCrane, and Andre Szmyt. Bates was shining at points of his viral UFL campaign but got cold down the stretch. After Bates missed three of eight field goal attempts in practice yesterday, per Lions senior writer Tim Twentyman, it makes sense for Fipp to bring in some competition to keep the UFL star honest.
  • Former second-round running back Cam Akers has struggled to find his place in the NFL but recently signed with the Texans for his next opportunity. Interestingly, Wilson notes that, before his successful workout in Houston resulted in a contract, Akers was scheduled for a workout with the Raiders this past week. Akers has his chance now to battle for time behind Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce in Houston, but his chances may have been a bit better in Las Vegas. The Raiders have a few names in Zamir White, Alexander Mattison, and Ameer Abdullah, but White is relatively inexperienced with just four starts to his name, Mattison struggled in his first season of full-time starting duty last season in Minnesota, and Abdullah hasn’t eclipsed 200 yards rushing in a season since 2017. It’s interesting to see Akers sign with Houston when he may have had an opportunity for more playing time with the Raiders.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/27/24

July 27th, 2024 at 8:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s minor moves around the NFL:

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Miami Dolphins 

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Martinez had a productive dual-threat career in college, scoring 96 total touchdowns during his time with Nebraska and Kansas State. He joined the Lions as a UDFA last spring, but he did not survive roster cutdowns. Martinez did not see any NFL game action, but he recently boosted his stock in the UFL. The 24-year-old earned league MVP honors while leading the Birmingham Stallions to the championship. Martinez compiled a combined 17:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio and led the league with 588 rushing yards.

The top of New York’s depth chart is set with Aaron Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor, but rookie Jordan Travis opened training camp on the NFI list as he continues to recover from the leg injury which ended his Florida State career. Martinez’s arrival (and the corresponding departure of Bryant) will allow him to see limited reps for at least a brief period. He could be a practice squad candidate if Travis returns to health in time for the fall, but a strong showing in training camp and/or the preseason could make him an attractive option for other teams.

Lions K Michael Badgley Suffers Season-Ending Hamstring Injury

July 26th, 2024 at 8:53am CST by Adam La Rose

Lions head coach Dan Campbell announced on Friday that kicker Michael Badgley injured himself while getting ready for practice. He confirmed (via team reporter Tim Twentyman) Badgley will undergo surgery and miss the entire 2024 season.

“I feel awful for Badgley, man,” Campbell said. “He worked his tail off to get ready for this season and he was having a good spring and was ready for camp. It’s tough.”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes Badgley suffered a torn hamstring. The 28-year-old was set to compete for the full-time kicking gig in Detroit during training camp, something he had yet to enjoy despite having made 16 total appearances for the team. Badgley took over from Riley Patterson midway through the 2023 season, and he was retained in February on a one-year deal.

Now, the journeyman will hit free agency next March with his market value having taken a hit. Badgley has played 64 games in the NFL split across five teams, and he could be forced to find another new employer when he returns to full health. The Lions, meanwhile, will now turn their attention to finding a suitable replacement over the coming weeks.

Detroit has UFL product Jake Bates as the only healthy kicker on the roster at the moment. The Michigan Panthers alum played his home games at Ford Field, and he connected on 17 of 22 field goal attempts (including three from beyond 60 yards). Campbell said the Lions have already lined up workouts with some of the free agent kickers available, though he added a signing is not necessarily an immediate priority.

Detroit topped the NFC North in 2023 and advanced to the conference title game. Expectations are high for the franchise this year, and maintaining their strong production on offense will be a important task for the Lions moving forward. Badgley was set to play a role in that regard, but those responsibilities will now fall to Bates or a kicker not currently on the roster. Detroit has $34.5MM in cap space, so affording competition for Bates in the near future will not be a problem.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/25/24

July 25th, 2024 at 7:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

  • Placed on active/PUP list: FB Robert Burns

Carolina Panthers

  • Waived/injured: DT Popo Aumavae

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

  • Cut via injury settlement: WR Jared Wayne

Minnesota Vikings

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Signed: WR Griffin Hebert
  • Waived from active/NFI list: T Gottlieb Ayedze

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: WR Ty Scott
  • Waived: CB Andrew Whitaker
  • Activated from active/NFI list: LB Easton Gibbs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed: TE Sal Cannella

Tennessee Titans

Via this transaction, the Jets are temporarily moving Reddick off their 90-man roster. Unlike placements on the active/PUP or active/NFI lists that are commonplace in July, Reddick is technically out of the mix for the Jets until his holdout ends. The trade acquisition has not shown up at any point since being traded to the Jets in March.

Diggs suffered a torn ACL during a late-September practice. He is not expected to be sidelined past Week 1, but the Cowboys will not have him at practice for a bit.

Levin has been a Titans backup for most of the past six seasons, playing regularly on special teams and starting four games during his career. An interior O-lineman, Levin played the past two seasons on one-year Tennessee deals. This marks yet another chance for Ray, a Broncos first-rounder back in 2015. This agreement comes after Ray worked out for the Titans in May. Ray, 31, spent time with the Bills during the 2023 offseason but has not played in a regular-season NFL game since 2018.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/24/24

July 24th, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Ely Allen

Wednesday’s minor transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Placed on active/NFI list: T Gottlieb Ayedze, WR Shaquan Davis
  • Placed on active/PUP list: S Sydney Brown

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

In New Orleans, Young has officially made the comeback from offseason neck surgery, passing his physical today alongside Olave, who is no stranger to offseason injuries.

Treadwell will join his eighth team in nine years after only making one catch in five games with the Ravens last season.

Brown is working his way back from an ACL tear that he suffered in the final game of his rookie season last year, so it’s no surprise that he will start the offseason on PUP.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/22/24

July 22nd, 2024 at 7:52pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

  • Waived-injured: WR Jared Wayne

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

  • Signed: WR Kevin Austin Jr.

New York Jets

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/21/24

July 21st, 2024 at 8:52pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor transactions to wrap up this final weekend before training camps begin:

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

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