Category: Lions News

Jameson Williams apologizes to Lions for his taunting penalty

Lions head coach Dan Campbell indicated that WR Jameson Williams apologizes to the team for his costly taunting penalty

One of the contributing factors in the Lions’ underwhelming second-half performance in the Thanksgiving win over the Chicago Bears was a costly penalty against Detroit wide receiver Jameson Williams. “Jamo” flipped the ball into the face of a Bears player on the Chicago sideline, earning an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

The infraction stymied any Lions momentum at a time–just under 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter–when the Lions desperately needed some. The penalty pushed the Lions back from near the 30-yard line to the Bears 44 and created a 2nd-and-22. The drive stalled, and kicker Jake Bates missed his first goal of the season.

After the game, Lions head coach Dan Campbell talked about several things that needed to get cleaned up after nearly blowing a 16-0 halftime lead. Williams’ penalty was prominent in his mind. Campbell credited Wiliams for owning his mistake.

“Yeah, and look, I’ll be honest with you, that’s already cleaned up. It’s already cleaned up,” Campbell said in his press conference. “So, we’re good. And as a matter of fact, Jamo got right in front of the team a minute ago, unsolicited, and wanted to apologize to his teammates. That’s big, that’s growth. So all good.”

Williams was a big part of the Lions offense in the win over the Bears. He was targeted on seven passes, catching five for 29 yards, while also running twice for 18 yards. That included a spectacular hurdle over a Bears defender.

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Lions postgame injury and medical report following the Thanksgiving win over the Bears

Lions postgame injury and medical report following the Thanksgiving win over the Bears which saw several players leave with injuries

The Lions gutted out a Thanksgiving victory but not before a myriad of players went down with injuries. There will be no mini-bye respite yet as the next game is in seven days on Thursday Night Football vs the Packers.

The main concerns coming out of the game are Malcolm Rodriguez, Josh Paschal, Levi Onwuzurike, and DJ Reader. Unfortunately, all those are along the front-7 which was already a significantly weakened unit coming into the game.

In Dan Campbell’s postgame press conference, he did provide some injury updates which I will include below.

These are the injuries I saw on initial watch along with suspected diagnoses:

Emmanuel Moseley

Moseley was a surprise inactive with Carlton Davis out, Terrion Arnold recovering (groin), and Kindle Vildor struggling last game. Moseley had played 15 special teams snaps last game without obvious issue. Dan Campbell stated that he had “pregame something that popped up”. It doesn’t sound too serious or long-term, but his status for next game is uncertain.

Terrion Arnold – groin

Despite a full week of “estimated” FP’s, Arnold did not start the 1st drive although he started all the drives after that. As to why, Dan Campbell stated: “We just wanted to make sure he was good.” Arnold looked sharp throughout the game.

Josh Paschal – right knee, 2q 12:50

Paschal appeared to take a hard step onto his right leg and did not return to the game. No deformity of the knee was seen on video which is good. He went to the locker room but returned to the sideline which is reassuring. A bone bruise is a possibility as well as cartilage damage. He’ll get an MRI soon to evaluate.

Levi Onwuzurike – left hamstring, 2q 00:09

The video looked concerning for a knee sprain but it was officially listed as a hamstring. He did not return to the game. He’s likely out for at least next game. Severity will determine how long he is out.

Mekhi Wingo – mild right knee sprain, 3q

Wingo had a slight limp during the 1st drive of the 2nd half. There was no obvious injury on video. He showed up with a right knee brace on the 2nd drive of the half and was still playing at the 12:00 mark of the 4th quarter. Hoping that this is just a mild knee sprain.

DJ Reader – left shoulder, 4q 11:18

The mechanism here is concerning for a shoulder subluxation. Hopefully, it’s just a mild shoulder strain. Good news is that he did return to the game although there were points where you could see that the shoulder was still bothering him.

Dan Skipper – right back or ribs, 4q 9:14

Skipper took a direct blow to the right torso/flank area. That is the same area as the rib injury he suffered in week 3, and I’m suspecting an aggravation of that injury. He was able to finish out the game and I don’t have any concerns going forward.

Khalil Dorsey – right low ankle sprain, 4q 8:24

His right ankle inverted slightly causing him to come up limping. I’m suspecting a mild low ankle sprain. He was able to stay in the game and should be fine.

Malcolm Rodriguez – right knee, 4q 6:39

Dan Campbell stated: “Rodrigo is the [injury] that could be the worst.”

The video was not clear but there is a concern for a non-contact ACL. Hopefully, it’s just a mild knee sprain.

Kindle Vildor – left arm contusion, 4q 3:14

Vildor had his left arm banged in friendly fire. He left the game briefly but returned and should be fine.

Za’Darius Smith – cramps, 4q 3:06 & 1:08

Smith needed assistance a couple times at the end of the game. I’m suspecting simple cramps as he was given an electrolyte drink on the sideline immediately after the initial episode. He was able to finish out the game.

Brian Branch – left ankle, 4q 1:04

There was no video of the injury here, but after the play, he was grabbing at his left ankle. He stayed in the game and looked to be fine.

Lions get first bite of dinner with Sam LaPorta touchdown

Lions get first bite of dinner with Sam LaPorta touchdown catch against the Bears defense

One play into the second quarter, the Lions have dig into their Thanksgiving dinner first with a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jared Goff to tight end Sam LaPorta.

After being held to just 19 yards last week against the Colts, LaPorta is back on the board. He may only have five yards following that catch, but with nearly three full quarters yet to play, LaPorta is in a good position to surpass last week’s total.

 

Is Amon-Ra St. Brown playing today? Injury updates for Lions WR

Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown is dealing with a knee injury. Here are the latest updates.

Standout Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the most important players on the roster. Unfortunately, St. Brown is dealing with a knee injury suffered in Detroit’s Week 12 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

It’s not a serious injury, but it is worrisome enough that St. Brown could be held out of the Week 13 matchup on Thanksgiving against the Chicago Bears.

Amon-Ra St. Brown injury update

St. Brown was officially listed as questionable on the Lions final injury report. He sat out Monday’s walkthrough and was a limited participant on Tuesday. St. Brown was a full participant on Wednesday, the final practice before the Thanksgiving game.

On Tuesday, head coach Dan Campbell offered this update on the All-Pro wideout,

“Yeah, I feel pretty good about Saint, actually. Well, I’ll know more today.”

How long will St. Brown be out?

St. Brown is active for the game and will play against the Bears.

Lions WR depth chart

St. Brown is the Lions top wide receiver and leading target for QB Jared Goff. St. Brown has 71 receptions on 85 targets, both of which are far beyond any other wideout.

Jameson Williams is next in line with 29 receptions and 48 targets in nine games. Then there’s a drop to big veteran Tim Patrick, with 19 receptions in 10 games. Kalif Raymond was placed on I.R. this week, with the Lions signing Maurice Alexander from the team’s practice squad. Veteran Allen Robinson has just two catches and five targets in five games of limited duty.

Is David Montgomery playing today? Injury updates for Lions RB

Detroit Lions RB David Montgomery is dealing with a shoulder injury. Here are the latest updates.

Heading into the Detroit Lions matchup with the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving, one of the keys to the Lions offense is up in the air. Running back David Montgomery is listed as questionable on the team’s final injury report.

David Montgomery injury update

Montgomery injured his shoulder in Detroit’s Week 12 win over the Indianapolis Colts. He left the game and did not return, though he was not ruled out from returning.

Head coach Dan Campbell seemed quite optimistic ahead of Tuesday’s practice that Montgomery would be able to play against the Bears, Montgomery’s old team.

“I feel pretty good about David, yeah. Like I said after full pads yesterday and full tilt practice, it looked good.”

How long will Montgomery be out?

A pregame report from ESPN’s Kimberley Martin indicates that Montgomery is expected to play. That reinforces what Campbell said of Montgomery during the week.

Lions RB depth chart

Montgomery shares the Lions running back load with Jahmyr Gibbs. The next man up would be veteran Craig Reynolds, who offers a similar power to Montgomery in his style of running and also excels in pass protection, an underappreciated aspect of Montgomery’s game.

Lions vs Bears: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction

Lions vs Bears: Last-minute thoughts and final score prediction for Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day game in Ford Field

Happy Thanksgiving! It’s always a special holiday for Detroit Lions fans, but this year is even more grand.

As I drink the morning coffee on this Lions gameday, the Lions are owners of the best record in the NFL. Okay, technically the Kansas City Chiefs are also 10-1, but the Lions are the current holders of the No. 32 spot on the NFL’s waiver wire.

Dan Campbell’s Lions are the best team in the league entering Week 13. They’ve won nine games in a row thanks to a balance between the No. 1 scoring offense and No. 2 scoring defense in the NFL.

It’s been a long time since the Lions won on Thanksgiving. The Chicago Bears, today’s opponent, are responsible for ruining the day for the Lions in three of those seven consecutive losses. Will the Lions exact some revenge on the day where Detroit is the rare focal point of the NFL?

Why I think the Lions will win

Defense.

Okay, I probably need to say more than one word. But everything good about this matchup rests upon Aaron Glenn’s banged-up but still incredibly effective defensive unit.

The Lions defense is playing some great team football lately. The cohesion and communication between the line, the backers and the secondary has been outstanding, no matter the personnel on hand. Glenn has found the sweet spot for his impact players, namely DT Alim McNeill and safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph.

All three are poised for big games in this one, most notably McNeill. He’s been on a tear as a pass rusher on the interior, and in this matchup, McNeill draws a subpar G-C-G package from the Bears. They’re not bad players individually, but the combination of Teven Jenkins, Matt Pryor and Coleman Shelton plays with little chemistry or coordination.

The biggest matchup advantage for the Lions in this game comes from their big guys on defense, and that also includes DJ Reader, Josh Paschal, Levi Onwuzurike and Za’Darius Smith. Power wins against the Bears. Talented power dominates.

The object of Detroit’s aggression is rookie QB Caleb Williams. The latest in a long line of Bears quarterback solutions has, at times, shown why he was the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft in Detroit. Williams has also proven his vociferous critics correct (so far, anyway) with erratic decisions, an inability to consistently win in the structure of the offense, and a maddening propensity to hold the ball way too long.

Getting Terrion Arnold back will help the Lions man coverage on the outside, though not having Carlton Davis will hurt. The opportunism of Joseph and Branch at safety, playing behind a pass rush that should be effective and a run defense that should stymie old friend D’Andre Swift, makes it tough to see the Bears scoring much without some help from more injuries, officiating or just a collective off day from too many Lions. Branch got his out of his system last week, and I expect a big rebound game here.

Moreover, Chicago is just not a well-coached offense. The Windy City airwaves and blogosphere are crowded with calls for coach Matt Eberflus’ head. They’ve already fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, but the heat is still on thanks to a scheme that doesn’t necessarily play to the strength of their top talents. Clock management, playcalling decisions, frigid starts to games–they’re all still major issues for the Bears.

On the opposite side of the ball, the Lions should be able to run early and often against the Bears defensive front. Chicago has some very legit talent upfront, but their spacing and attack-at-all-times scheme leaves them vulnerable against disciplined offenses that don’t get discouraged from running the ball on 2nd-and-10 or 3rd-and-7. The Lions run offense with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, running behind a well-heeled line, has no such problems.

Then there’s the coaching. Eberflus is on the hot seat. Campbell should be getting more mention than he is for NFL Coach of the Year, and all three coordinators–Glenn, OC Ben Johnson and special teams coach Dave Fipp–are at or near the top of their respective positions. The Lions coaching staff is a well-oiled machine. The Bears staff is leaking oil above some smoldering kindling.

Don’t think for a second the Lions coaches don’t know how long it’s been since this team won on this day. Chicago might be an inferior opponent statistically and record-wise, but ending the Thanksgiving losing will mean something to them. So will beating a division opponent.

What concerns me about the Bears

Much of what concerns me about the Bears relates more to the Lions and the rampant injuries across the roster. If Detroit was at full strength, I would expect them to win by 20-plus points.

Alas, this is not even close to the full complement of talent for Detroit. Left tackle Taylor Decker is out, as is starting outside CB Carlton Davis. Losing Decker is huge because the fundamental tenet of Chicago’s defense is being able to pressure the quarterback by only rushing four. The dropoff from Decker to the next OT in line–be it Dan Skipper or practice squad elevation Jamarco Jones–is significant.

Moving Penei Sewell from the right side to the left shores up the left side, but the Bears defense typically aligns their best pass rusher, Montez Sweat, against the right tackle. Much of the Lion’s run blocking is based around Sewell’s seek-and-destroy mobility and power from the right side, too. Either way, Decker is a major loss against the Bears.

Davis’ absence on defense pushes Kindle Vildor, Khalil Dorsey and Emmanuel Moseley two spots higher up the depth chart. Remember, just last Thursday Detroit had rookie Ennis Rakestraw as CB4. Now he and Davis are out. The Lions depth CBs are tasked with controlling a very good 1-2-3 WR combination in DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Keenan Allen. The safeties and LBs can’t help too much because TE Cole Kmet is a very good receiver, as is Swift at RB out of the backfield. Caleb Williams’ running and improvisational ability demands their attention, too. Chicago’s offense might be erratic and poorly coached, but they do have the ability to make some plays.

Back to the Bears defense. Goff has struggled against them; 43-for-70, 393 yards, 3 TDs and 5 INTs in two games last year. Much like the Buccaneers in Detroit’s only loss this year, the Bears are really good at getting quick pressure by rushing just four, and simultaneously crowding the middle of the field. That’s where Goff attacks at his best and the Bears are really good at taking it away. They too have opportunistic defenders; eight different Bears have INTs and 10 have forced fumbles on the season. Factor in Graham Glasgow’s recent struggles at left guard and Decker’s absence to his outside flank, and the Bears D could be a real problem for Goff and the Lions. Especially if Ben Johnson gets impatient and too intricate with his play calls and designs–as happened against the Buccaneers back in Week 2…

Final score prediction

I think the Lions have enough talent to survive what figures to be a spirited challenge from a Bears team that just might have a death-gasp game in them. Lions win, 20-17, on a Jake Bates field goal on Detroit’s final drive.

 

James Houston claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns

James Houston gets a fresh start in Cleveland after being dumped by Detroit

James Houston won’t have to move too far for his next NFL gig. A day after being released by the Detroit Lions, the third-year EDGE was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns.

Houston joins the Browns and is immediately on their 53-man active roster. He will help fill the hole in Cleveland that opened when the Lions traded for EDGE Za’Darius Smith.

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The Browns were No. 8 in the NFL’s waiver claim order, meaning that they were the first team to place a claim on Houston after the first seven all passed. The Lions own the No. 32 and final waiver claim entering Week 13.

Lions final injury report: Carlton Davis, Taylor Decker ruled out vs. Bears

Lions final injury report: Carlton Davis, Taylor Decker ruled out vs. Bears, and two other prominent starters are questionable with injuries

Some unfortunate news from the Detroit Lions final injury report of Week 13. The Lions will face the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving without the services of starting left tackle Taylor Decker and cornerback Carlton Davis.

Both Decker and David suffered leg injuries in the Week 12 win over the Colts. The short week hindered their availability for the annual Thanksgiving game. Neither is expected to be a long-term injury.

In addition to Decker and Davis, running back David Montgomery and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown are officially questionable for Thursday’s game. Montgomery injured his shoulder, while St. Brown banged up his knee on a punt return in Indianapolis on Sunday.

On a more positive front, rookie CB Terrion Arnold has no injury designation and will play. Arnold missed the trip to Indy with a groin issue.

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Lions sign 2 players from the practice squad, elevate Jamarco Jones vs Bears

The Lions had two roster openings after placing Kalif Raymond on I.R. and they filled them internally ahead of Thanksgiving

The Detroit Lions were busy with some roster moves on Wednesday, the day before the team hosts the Chicago Bears in Ford Field.

As was previously reported, the Lions placed wide receiver and return man Kalif Raymond on injured reserve. Raymond suffered a foot injury returning a punt in the Week 12 win over the Colts.

To fill Raymond’s spot, the Lions signed wideout Maurice Alexander from the team’s practice squad. Alexander also has considerable experience returning punts and kicks, which has been Raymond’s primary role of late.

The Lions also signed linebacker David Long from the practice squad to the active roster. Long made his Detroit debut in Week 12 as a practice squad elevation, playing 13 defensive snaps in the win in Indianapolis. His roster spot was opened when the Lions released James Houston on Tuesday.

For the Thanksgiving game, the Lions also elevated veteran offensive tackle Jamarco Jones from the practice squad. It’s the second elevation for Jones, who played left tackle for an injured Taylor Decker in the win in Houston. Decker is injured again, this time with a leg injury suffered during a play in Week 12. Decker has been ruled out for Thursday’s game.

 

Film Room: What’s been going on with Lions TE Sam LaPorta this season

LaPorta isn’t coming close to his record-setting rookie performance, and there are a few indicators as to why

One year ago, Detroit Lions TE Sam LaPorta was having a historic rookie season. Through 10 games of that rookie season, he recorded 50 receptions for 492 yards and four touchdowns. Ultimately, he ended up with 86 receptions for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023.

This season, things have changed and the sophomore slump seems apparent. Through 10 games this season, LaPorta only has 28 receptions for 385 yards and three touchdowns. Certainly, it’s not the worst stat line but the expectations for LaPorta were going to be high due to what he did last season as a rookie.

Put the production aside and it’s evident that LaPorta looks “off” this season. While he’s struggled with staying healthy, he’s played through injuries but just doesn’t look as sharp as he did a season ago. Let’s dive into some film and see if we can spot the differences.

https://x.com/RussNFLDraft/status/1861395481974448197

Starting with LaPorta blocking, there will always be ups and downs for tight ends in this area. Much of that is due to alignment, blocking in space or who they have to block. Sometimes there are just mismatches for the position. However, the play above is a positive from LaPorta.

Looking at the play above, you can see LaPorta aligned next to Taylor Decker (LT 68). Once the ball is snapped, he comes off the line with a jab step using his left foot. This forces the defensive end to take an extra step out and away from the ball and most importantly, it gives Decker a better chance or angle to seal the defensive end.

As for LaPorta, he begins to climb to the second level. From there, his aiming point is the outside shoulder of Colts cornerback (40) Jaylon Jones. Once LaPorta gets close, he throttles down with good pad level and begins to buzz his feet as he approaches the defender. Within striking distance, he hits with his hands and follows through with his feet. From there, he keeps his feet chopping and clears the defender 10 or 15 yards downfield.

https://x.com/RussNFLDraft/status/1720269409875320894

Going back to last season, there was obvious trust between Jared Goff and Sam LaPorta. Using the play above as an example, we go back to the Monday Night game between the Lions and Raiders.

Looking at the play above, the Lions use pre-snap motion to get into a 2×2 set. Once the ball is snapped, you’ll see LaPorta running a post route but it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s running an option route. That route would change depending on the depth and direction of the middle linebacker for the Raiders defense.

Reading the safeties, Goff knows there’s a potential mismatch and opening for LaPorta to score a touchdown. Meanwhile, there’s some obvious trust for Goff to throw the ball in a tighter window due to the linebacker’s coverage drop.

https://x.com/RussNFLDraft/status/1861397242906603542

All of that said, it just feels like there’s a disconnect between Goff and LaPorta this season. Moving back to last week against the Colts, the Lions are faced with a 3rd and short on their opening drive of the game. These down and distances tend to be very manageable for the Lions but this one ended up being a negative play.

Looking at the play above, the Lions use pre-snap motion to get into a condensed 3×1 set with their ’12’ personnel (one running back and two tight ends). Rather than running the ball, the Lions drop back to pass and coming off an exit motion is Sam LaPorta.

As LaPorta starts to get upfield, he breaks to the middle of the field on what appears to be a snag route at 5 or 6 yards. Rather than throttling down, sinking his hips and sitting in the passing window, LaPorta runs with high pad level and drifts towards the middle of the field. Despite very good coverage from Colts LB (44) Zaire Franklin, it felt like Goff would have tried to fit this pass into this window last season. Additionally, it feels and looks like LaPorta would have ran this route a lot cleaner a season ago.

Overall, we should all be very pleased to have Sam LaPorta as the starting tight end for the Lions. He’s an asset to the offense due to the fact that at any point, he could produce a big game. Meanwhile, defenses have to honor him whenever he’s on the field. If not, the Lions offense could really stay hot like they’ve been for most of this season.

Despite it looking evident of some type of disconnect between Goff and LaPorta, we’re starting to see increased targets for the second year tight end. Over the last four weeks, LaPorta has seen 21 targets and it’s led to 14 receptions for 161 yards and two touchdowns. The four weeks prior to that, he had only seen 9 targets.

As the Lions reach the final month of the season, it wouldn’t be surprising for their offense to start featuring more of LaPorta in the passing game. Especially now that we’re starting to see injuries to some of their playmakers such as Kalif Raymond, David Montgomery and Amon-Ra St. Brown. There’s no reason to hit the panic button but through this point of the season, there’s been some concern with Sam LaPorta. This Thanksgiving against the Chicago Bears