Category: Lions News

Lions WR Geronimo Allison elects to opt-out for 2020

Allison was expected to compete to be the team’s No. 4 WR in 2020

Geronimo Allison was the most prominent addition to the Lions wide receiving corps this offseason. However, Allison has elected to opt-out from playing in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Allison joins DT John Atkins on the opt-out list for Detroit. The veteran wideout will not play in 2020 and will receive a $150,000 advance on his contract as a result. Allison signed a 1-year, $1.05 million contract this offseason to join the Lions after spending his first four seasons with the Green Bay Packers.

The big wideout from Illinois was expected to take over the No. 4 WR role behind Marvin Jones, Kenny Golladay and Danny Amendola. He caught 34 passes for 287 yards and two TDs in 2019.

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Report: Matthew Stafford is asymptomatic

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is reporting that while Detroit Lions Matthew Stafford has been placed on the COVID-19 reserve list, he is asymptomatic.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is reporting that while Detroit Lions Matthew Stafford has been placed on the COVID-19 reserve list, he is asymptomatic.

At this time, it’s not clear of Stafford has tested positive for the virus or if he was in proximity of someone who tested positive and that led to him being on the list, but either way, his path back to Allen Park has the potential to be quicker than if he was showing symptoms.

If Stafford had a positive test but is asymptomatic, per NFL/NFLPA report on COVID education, he can return to action by taking the following steps:

  • 10 days after the initial positive test OR
  • 5 days have passed since the initial positive test and two consecutive negative tests are completed separated by 24 hours within a five-day period
  • Return must be approved by the team’s Head Physician

If Stafford was in contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19, the steps to return could be even shorter:

  • Second negative test within 24 hours of initial negative test
  • Increased symptom monitoring
  • Eight days of daily virus testing
  • Regular testing schedule thereafter

Before he can return to the Lions training facility, Stafford and his family will have some difficult decisions to consider. Not only does Stafford have to be concerned for his health but his wife Kelly is just one year removed from brain surgery, and together they have four children under the age of four, including their newborn Tyler who is barely over a month old.

If Stafford elects to opt-out of the 2020 season, he will have 72 to 96 hours (Tuesday or Wednesday) to make that decision, per an updated timeline reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

On a positive note for Lions fans, the fact that the team placed him on the COVID-19 reserve list instead of the opt-out list is an early indicator that he is preparing to return — but let’s not get the cart ahead of the horse here, he has a lot on the line off the field.

What’s next for Stafford, Golladay and the other Lions on the reserve/COVID-19 list?

What’s next for Matthew Stafford, Kenny Golladay and the other Lions on the reserve/COVID-19 list?

Matthew Stafford’s appearance on the transaction wire shook up the Lions den. Stafford is now on the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list.

Stafford joins Kenny Golladay, T.J. Hockenson and five other Lions players on the reserve list just in the first five days of the players arriving in Allen Park for the start of training camp. Being placed on the list does not necessarily indicate a positive test result for COVID-19, though that is one of the ways a player can make it onto the reserve list. Players who test negative but have been in close personal contact with an infected person also get placed on the list without differentiation by the team or league.

What’s next for Stafford, Golladay and the other Lions on the list? How do they get back on the field?

Per the NFL’s information on the newly created reserve/COVID-19 list, there are three different scenarios. They depend on if the player tested positive or negative and if he is symptomatic or asymptomatic.

For positive tests…

Asymptomatic players cannot return until:

  • 10 days after the initial positive test OR
  • 5 days have passed since the initial positive test and two consecutive negative tests are completed separated by 24 hours within a five-day period
  • Return must be approved by the team’s physician and the league’s Infection Control Specialist, or ICS

Symptomatic players can’t return until:

  • 10 days have passed since the first COVID-19 symptoms appeared
  • At least 72 hours have passed since the symptoms last occurred
  • Return is approved by the team’s physician after consulting with ICS and NFL’s chief medical officer
  • Local regulations and requirements are satisfied

For players who test negative and are asymptomatic but have been in close contact with an infected person, the rules change.

  • Second negative test within 24 hours of initial negative test
  • Increased symptom monitoring
  • Eight days of daily virus testing
  • Regular testing schedule thereafter

Players have until Monday, August 3rd to opt-out for the season. So far, defensive tackle John Atkins is the only Lions player to exercise his right to opt-out.

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Matthew Stafford placed on the Lions COVID-19 reserve list

Stafford did not necessarily test positive for COVID-19

Matthew Stafford is the latest addition to the Detroit Lions reserve/COVID-19 list, and certainly the most prominent. The Lions placed the longtime starting quarterback on the reserve list on Saturday.

Being placed on the list does not necessarily indicate a positive test for the virus, but it does indicate that Stafford has been in close contact with an infected individual. The team cannot differentiate between the two at the time of placing a player on the list.

Stafford is the eighth Lions player to go onto the newly created list.

  • QB Matthew Stafford
  • CB Justin Coleman
  • TE T.J. Hockenson
  • WR Kenny Golladay
  • TE Isaac Nauta
  • CB Amani Oruwairye
  • P Arryn Siposs
  • S Jalen Elliott

His status is concerning, as Stafford has four young daughters at home including a newborn. His wife, Kelly, had brain surgery in 2019 as well.

Stafford’s eligibility to come off the list depends on his COVID-19 status.

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Former NFL scout: ‘I wouldn’t be too down on the Lions if I were you’

Kelly worked for the Jets under Bill Parcells

In an interview on the Split Division Podcast earlier this week, former NFL scout Daniel Kelly spoke a lot of praise for the Detroit Lions and head coach Matt Patricia.

Kelly began his NFL career as an intern with the Minnesota Vikings and eventually worked his way up to being a scout for the New York Jets in the late nineties, in a front office that included both Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick.

Kelly had much to say on Patricia, who coached under Belichick in New England. One thing he pointed out is that Patricia has, in fact, brought a lot of Belichick’s tendencies to Detroit. While that may not show up yet on gamedays, Kelly seems to think that the Lions are heading in the right direction.

“I love what Matt Patrica is doing there.” says Kelly. “I love the toughness, I love the discipline.”

He later followed up with more of the same optimism.

“I just think that there’s a lot of good things they’re doing in Detroit.”

When asked about a certain position or specific traits the Lions are in need of, Kelly immediately responded with “a big-time running back.”

The Lions are heading into the season with oft-injured Kerryon Johnson and rookie second-round pick D’Andre Swift. If Johnson can stay healthy, he and Swift could prove to be the playmaking duo that Detroit desperately needs in the backfield.

Kelly’s shared his thoughts about the offensive line. He said plain and simple that the Lions’ offensive line was “average” in 2019, and that the team could use an upgrade on the right side of the line.

The Lions have parted ways with Graham Glasgow and Rick Wagner this past offseason, and brought in Halapoulivaati Vaitai to replace Wagner at right tackle. At guard, there is an open competition between a slew of players including rookies Jonah Jackson and Logan Stenberg, as well as former starters such as Kenny Wiggins, Oday Aboushi, Joshua Garnett, Russell Bodine and Caleb Benenoch.

When discussing the defense, Kelly did make some harsh remarks on one player in particular.

“Will Harris. I think that he was a big, big problem back there for them. I thought he was a problem. I didn’t like him at all.”

He explained that Harris, a third-round pick in 2019, was a below-average player when lined up at free safety.

Detroit did have to shuffle the safety position around quite a bit due to the trading of Quandre Diggs, as well as multiple injuries in the position group. Regardless, Harris did struggle quite a bit, giving up three touchdowns and an average passer rating of 125.7 on 668 defensive snaps. The rookie also missed six tackles.

Overall, Kelly stated that he was very excited about the direction that the team is heading in, and even made a bold prediction.

“I wouldn’t be a bit surprised, if Stafford can stay healthy, to see the Lions make some real noise in that division as a dark-horse team.”

Listen to the entirety of the interview on the Split Division Podcast.

Justin Coleman placed on the COVID-19 reserve list

Coleman is the 6th Lions player to go on the newly created reserve list

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Cornerback Justin Coleman is the latest Detroit Lions player to be placed on the team’s COVID-19 reserve list.

The starting slot CB went on the list on Thursday afternoon. Per a report from NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, Coleman is asymptomatic and tested negative during his initial screening on Tuesday but tested positive on Wednesday.

Coleman is the sixth Lions player to go on the list. All the other five were placed on the newly formed reserve list on Wednesday:

  • WR Kenny Golladay
  • TE T.J. Hockenson
  • CB Amani Oruwariye
  • P Arryn Siposs
  • S Jalen Elliott

If Coleman did indeed test positive, his timeline for a return is longer than if he was merely exposed to an infected person.

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No Lions appear on Touchdown Wire’s 11 best outside WRs

Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones both failed to make the list

Kenny Golladay led the NFL in touchdown receptions in 2019. He finished third in yards per reception, seventh in yards and made his first Pro Bowl. Golladay is one of the game’s young standout receivers.

Alas, he doesn’t stand out quite enough yet. Golladay failed to crack Touchdown Wire’s list of the top 11 outside wide receivers. Running mate Marvin Jones, who missed several games with a knee injury, also doesn’t make the list even though he’s a more complete receiver than Golladay.

This keeps with the theme from earlier this summer, where ESPN also omitted Golladay and Jones. Interestingly, Detroit gets acclaim from both as having an argument for the best duo; Golladay is even the featured picture for the honorable mentions here, though he’s not specifically noted by name.

If Golladay churns out another monster season in 2020, these sorts of omissions are going to look foolish.

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Matt Prater can win free Bud Light for Detroit

Matt Prater can win free Bud Light for Detroit if he makes a longer FG than Denver’s Brandon McManus

Do you like watching Matt Prater kick long field goals for the Detroit Lions? Do you like free beer?

If you answered yes to both questions, Bud Light and the Lions kicker have a chance to make you a happy fan. And you can thank both Prater’s powerful right leg and his social media persistence.

Bud Light originally made a pledge to buy everyone in Denver a free beer if Broncos kicker Brandon McManus set the NFL record for the longest made field goal. Prater holds that record at 64 yards, a mark he set in Denver back in 2013.

Being the rightful record-holder, Prater butted in on the action and wanted to know if Bud Light would do the same if he broke his own record. It took a couple of days and some prodding from the Pat McAfee Show, but the brewer responded with a win-win situation.

The odds favor Prater; McManus has a career-long of just 57 yards.

May the best man win!

Frank Ragnow ranks as the 7th-best center in NFL per Touchdown Wire

Lions Wire’s brother site Touchdown Wire has been ranking the Top-11 players at every position for the 2020 season and the Detroit Lions Frank Ragnow checks in as the seventh-best center in NFL.

Lions Wire’s brother site Touchdown Wire has been ranking the Top-11 players at every position for the 2020 season and the Detroit Lions’ Frank Ragnow checks in as the seventh-best center in NFL in their latest article.

“A good center is the unheralded captain of an offense,” Doug Farrar said. “While we all talk about skill position players, and maybe throw in the names of a few marquee offensive tackles if we’re feeling particularly smart, interior offensive linemen are crucial to the implementation of any offensive design.”

The Lions believe in this approach to the center position and it’s a big reason why they made Ragnow a first-round selection. The Lions did one of their best draft misdirections that year, subtly indicating interest in several other players while secretly targeting Ragnow to be the anchor up front.

“The Lions selected Ragnow with the 20th overall pick in the 2018 draft out of Arkansas, and started his NFL career by placing him at left guard for all but one of his 1,087 snaps in his rookie year,” Farrar said. “Ragnow allowed four sacks and 36 total pressures in that role, but when he moved to center last season, everything fell into place.

“Ragnow allowed just two sacks and 18 total pressures in 2019 despite the back injury that cost Matthew Stafford half his season and put David Blough and Jeff Driskel in the spotlight. Ragnow has the strength and leverage to rock defensive linemen off their feet, and the agility to excel in any quick zone-based scheme.”

In his first year as the Lions fulltime center, Ragnow spent several weeks in 2019 as the highest-graded player at his position on Pro Football Focus’ grading scale, eventually finishing the season sixth on the list. He has the potential to be the best center in the NFL with time, which lines up with Farrar’s conclusion:

“With (Mathew) Stafford back in the game, and more reps at center at the NFL level, there’s little doubt that Ragnow’s is a name on the way up at his position.”

No preseason is a big problem for the Lions’ rebuilt offensive line

Detroit will have at least two new starters on the offensive line in 2020

Every NFL team will lose some benefits by not having preseason games. The Detroit Lions continuity on the coaching staff and at the offensive skill position players puts the team in a better spot than many of their opponents.

The offensive line, however…

Detroit is breaking in two new starters on the right side. Rick Wagner and Graham Glasgow are both gone. Big-ticket free agent Halapoulivaati Vaitai will be the right tackle, a role he played with a limited degree of success as a reserve in Philadelphia. At least he’s a known commodity.

Right guard is a complete mystery right now. It was the only real open spot on the starting offense entering camp. Kenny Wiggins figured to have the best chance, and his chances are augmented by the lack of proving-ground competition that the preseason would have provided. It’s going to be that much harder for rookies Jonah Jackson and Logan Stenberg to try and crack the starting lineup.

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Left guard was poised for competition, too. I’ve often predicted Jackson, the team’s third-round pick from Ohio State, would win the starting left guard spot over holdover Joe Dahl, or Wiggins, or veteran Oday Aboushi, or newcomer Joshua Garnett. Now I can’t hold to that prediction with any sort of confidence. Even though I do expect the guard rotation experiment from last season to continue, there should be a first amongst equals. Jackson’s opportunity to earn that first status is severely hampered by the preseason cancelation.

The uncertainty at those spots negatively impacts the two established, quality starters up front in left tackle Taylor Decker and center Frank Ragnow. Don’t forget the Lions are breaking in a new offensive line coach in Hank Fraley, who takes over for Jeff Davidson after being an assistant last year. Fraley is familiar with the players and the blocking scheme is expected to remain essentially the same, but it’s still another card that can collapse the whole offensive house.

It’s a lot of moving parts that need to come together quickly to keep the Lions offense flying high with Matthew Stafford and his weapons. Losing the chance to play together in preseason is a major hit to the Detroit offensive line.

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