Tag: d’andre swift

Dan Campbell downplays the chance of RB D’Andre Swift playing in Week 13

Swift left Thursday’s game with an injured right shoulder that is now expected to keep him out of Detroit’s Week 13 game against the Minnesota Vikings

The extended break between games will not be enough to help injured Lions running back D’Andre Swift back in the lineup for the Week 13 visit from the Minnesota Vikings. Head coach Dan Campbell downplayed the chances that Swift will be available for Sunday’s meeting in Ford Field.

“Right now it’s pretty sore,” Campbell said in his Zoom press conference with reporters. “It’s hard to say you’d see him playing, but we’ll know a lot more on how he feels tomorrow (Tuesday) and certainly Wednesday. But I know he’s hurting a little bit.”

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Swift left Thursday’s loss to the Chicago Bears with a shoulder injury and was quickly ruled out. It is the same shoulder Swift injured in the tie against Pittsburgh earlier in the season.

Jermar Jefferson figures to get the bulk of Swift’s reps that don’t go to regular starter Jamaal Williams. Godwin Igwebuike could also see an increased role in the offense.

Amani Oruwariye, Penei Sewell earn top PFF grades for Lions loss in Week 12

Amani Oruwariye, Penei Sewell earn top the Pro Football Focus grades for the Detroit Lions in Week 12 loss to the Chicago Bears

The Lions got some strong all-around performances from several young players in the Thanksgiving day loss to the Chicago Bears. The Pro Football Focus grades from the 16-14, last-second loss spotlight a few key contributors playing well but not enough to carry the Lions to a win.

Cornerback Amani Oruwariye topped all Lions with an impressive 83.4 overall grade. Oruwariye had one interception and nearly another. Bears quarterback Andy Dalton registered a QB Rating of just 9.7 when targeting Oruwariye in coverage on six passes in his direction.

On offense, rookie right tackle Penei Sewell earned an overall grade of 78.6, including an elite run blocking score of 93.2. Even with two penalties and the lowest pass-blocking grade on the team (57.6), Sewell still wound up the top-graded offensive player.

The rest of the top scores (min 8 snaps):

LB Alex Anzalone – 78.8

WR Josh Reynolds – 76.6

CB Jerry Jacobs – 74.4

LG Jonah Jackson – 73.6

OLB Austin Bryant – 70.7

LT Taylor Decker – 70.7

At the other end of the PFF grading spectrum, rookie linebacker Derrick Barnes struggled to a 36.9 overall grade in 19 snaps. Barnes was on the hook for the Bears TD pass according to PFF, significantly lowering his grade. Safety Tracy Walker (41.8) and DE Michael Brockers (42.9) also ranked near the bottom. The lowest-graded player on offense was RB D’Andre Swift, who notched a 43.7 in just 10 snaps.

D’Andre Swift leaves Lions vs. Bears matchup with a shoulder injury

The initial report from the team is a right shoulder injury and that Swift is questionable to return.

Detroit Lions running back D’Andre Swift left the Lions’ Thanksgiving matchup with the Chicago Bears with a shoulder injury.

Swift was shaken up after landing hard on his right shoulder along the Chicago sidelines during the second quarter. He laid on the Ford Field turf for several minutes before eventually getting up and trotting off to the Lions sidelines.

The initial report from the team is a right shoulder injury and that Swift is questionable to return. He had three carries netting zero yards and three receptions for three yards upon his departure.

D’Andre Swift nominated for FedEx Ground Player of the Week for 2nd week in a row

Swift ran for 136 yards and a touchdown on just 14 carries in Week 11

For the second week in a row, Detroit Lions running back D’Andre Swift is one of three finalists for the FedEx Ground Player of the Week.

Swift ran for 136 yards and a touchdown on just 14 carries in Detroit’s 13-10 loss in Cleveland in Week 11. It was the second week in a row Swift topped 130 rushing yards. In Week 10, Swift hit 130 yards on 33 carries in the Lions tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He’s got some stiff competition in Week 11. Colts RB Jonathan Taylor ran for 185 yards and four touchdowns in Indianapolis’ romp over Buffalo. Bengals RB Joe Mixon is the other finalist after rushing for 123 yards and two TDs in Cincinnati’s win over the Raiders.

You can vote for Swift here.

D’Andre Swift, Penei Sewell earn top PFF grades in Lions loss to the Browns

D’Andre Swift, Penei Sewell earn the top PFF grades in Lions loss to the Browns in Week 11

It might seem odd that Pro Football Focus graded six Detroit Lions offensive players better than anyone on the Detroit defense in the Week 11 loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Lions lost 13-10 and didn’t crack 100 passing yards in the latest loss, after all. But the grading highlights the relative importance of context.

The Lions run game performed quite well for the second game in a row. And while the defense did a fair job, poor offensive play from Baker Mayfield and the Browns offense was more culpable in why Cleveland only scored 13 than the Lions defense.

PFF took a shine to the Lions toughness, run game and blocking. RB D’Andre Swift earned the top grade at 83.1 overall, a figure bolstered by an 86.1 run grade.

The rest of the top-graded Lions from Week 11:

  • RT Penei Sewell – 81.1
  • WR Amon-Ra St Brown – 75.3
  • TE Brock Wright – 71.3
  • C Evan Brown – 69.6
  • TE T.J. Hockenson – 69.4

They all graded out better than the top defensive player, LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who earned a 68.6 overall grade.

At the other end of the spectrum, these were the five lowest-graded Lions:

  • LB Alex Anzalone – 29.0
  • LB Derrick Barnes – 29.7
  • S Tracy Walker – 38.0
  • CB Amani Oruwariye – 43.8
  • QB Tim Boyle – 44.6

Dreadful offensive calls and execution plagues the Lions in close loss to Browns

Detroit’s offensive play decisions and execution were not good in the Lions’ Week 11 loss to the Browns

After the latest loss from Dan Campbell and his Detroit Lions, it’s a struggle to figure out exactly where to point the fingers of blame. There are many deserving targets, to be sure. But in this one, a 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns, the biggest culprit in the immediate aftermath of the game was the passing offense, both the design and the execution.

The word that kept coming to mind was “dreadful”. Be it quarterback Tim Boyle’s passing touch, the insistence on throwing short of the needed yardage on third downs or the choices of when to kick and when to stay on the attack, it was all the same word.

Dreadful.

On a day where D’Andre Swift churned out 136 rushing yards on just 14 carries, the Lions offense should have done more. Note the number 14 there. That’s not nearly enough carries for Swift on an afternoon where Boyle, making his first career start, was not up to snuff.

Boyle was not good, to be blunt. He completed 15 of his 23 passes but netted just 77 yards in the air. He was not sacked once and the line performed admirably, especially given the team was forced to play undrafted rookies Ryan McCollum at center and Tommy Kraemer at right guard for most of the second half due to injuries.

Boyle’s first interception came in the red zone on a miscommunication with Swift on an option route. That cannot be an unexpected outcome when asking a quarterback who wasn’t activated off injured reserve until Friday afternoon into making a critical decision under stress in his first real NFL game action. Maybe, just maybe, having only one route option there would be more prudent.

Dreadful.

Campbell took over more control of the play-calling during the bye week. After two weeks, the results have been very good in the running game but dreadful in the passing attack. The decision to go more smashmouth with the run has been fantastic, but it is not helping the passing game. Both Boyle and Goff have been astonishingly inept at quarterback in their own rights, but they’re not aided by the play decisions and the dreadfully conservative overall passing game philosophy.

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Cach Campbell deserves scrutiny for his choices in a couple of critical situations. The first was electing to kick a field goal on 4th-and-1 from the Browns 25-yard line with just over nine minutes to play and his Lions trailing 13-7. At that point, the offense had produced one drive that gained more than one first down without the aid of a Browns defensive penalty. This was the best chance to try and score the go-ahead touchdown.

Kicking the field goal made sense from an analytical standpoint, but it ignores the game context. The Lions trotted out kicker Aldrick Rosas for his first attempt in a Detroit uniform. He was 1-for-4 with the Saints before New Orleans dumped him earlier this year, and the weather and field conditions in Cleveland were not great. Give Rosas credit for delivering a dead-solid perfect kick in those circumstances, but Campbell probably should have gone for the throat.

Then again, that would require trusting Boyle to convert the play. The previous short-yardage run attempt, a foolish dive play to FB Jason Cabinda, failed miserably. The decision to take the (potential) points there is understandable.

On the Lions final drive, Campbell also decided that kicking was the better option. After a Swift 5-yard run on 3rd-and-14, it’s again understandable to not trust the Lions offense to keep the ball rolling forward. But with under three minutes to play and the NFL’s best running back in Nick Chubb on the other side, punting the ball away was a de facto white flag.

That’s not playing to win. Sure, converting 4th-and-9 was wildly unlikely, but maybe the Browns would commit a costly penalty. Maybe Swift breaks a tackle and makes something happen. Maybe Boyle throws the ball beyond the sticks and Amon-Ra St. Brown or T.J. Hockenson deliver. We’ll never know, because Campbell punted the opportunity away.

Dreadful.

Detroit Lions vs. Cleveland Browns game recap: Everything we know

Detroit Lions vs. Cleveland Browns game recap: Score, stats, keys to the game and more

The Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns played a dreary offensive game on the shores of Lake Erie on a cold, damp November afternoon. Cleveland withstood a late Lions surge and ran out the clock to hold onto a win, keeping the visiting Lions winless on the season.

It was another suspect game for the Detroit offense, this time with backup QB Tim Boyle at the helm. Running back D’Andre Swift had himself an impressive afternoon, but the passing attack fell flat once again.

The win improves the Browns record to 6-5, while the Lions fall to 0-9-1 in Dan Campbell’s debut season.

Lions vs. Browns: Final injury report rules out 3 Lions, QB Jared Goff doubtful

Taylor Decker and Tracy Walker are among the four Lions listed as questionable

The final injury report for the Detroit Lions in Week 11 rules out three players, and none of those are wounded QB Jared Goff.

The Lions list Goff, who is battling an oblique injury suffered last week, as doubtful for the trip to Cleveland to face the Browns. Goff did not practice all week. Backup Tim Boyle is expected to start in his place.

The three Lions ruled out:

OLB Trey Flowers

RB Jermar Jefferson

OT Matt Nelson

None of those is a surprise after all three suffered injuries in the Week 10 tie with Pittsburgh.

Four other Lions are listed as questionable, including starting RB Jamaal Williams (thigh). Left tackle Taylor Decker (elbow), safety Tracy Walker (concussion) and wide receiver Trinity Benson (knee). Benson was a late addition to the injury list, apparently suffering a knee injury in Friday’s practice.

Running back D’Andre Swift was a full participant in Friday’s practice and does not carry any designation for Sunday’s game. Cornerbacks Jerry Jacobs and Mark Gilbert, as well as OLB Austin Bryant, are good to go.

Browns final injury report

The Browns had a host of injured players in and out of practice all week. However, only three are ruled out for the game against the Lions:

  • CB A.J. Green
  • CB Troy Hill
  • WR Anthony Schwartz

Two other Browns are questionable. Defensive end Takk McKinley and wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones are game-day decisions with groin injuries.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield will start despite his ongoing non-throwing shoulder injuries. Mayfield has a torn labrum and a broken humerus bone in his left shoulder.

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Lions Wire fantasy football weekly: 2021 Week 11 preview

Our Derek Okrie breaks down the week in fantasy football and the Browns vs. Lions matchups

The focus is always to win in fantasy football. We all know that you are going to take some losses at times too, but have you ever experienced that fantasy football matchup which goes down to the final play and then it ends in a tie?

Lions at Browns fantasy focus

The Detroit Lions played very hard last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but when the game clock expired in overtime and the battle ended the scoreboard reflected a tied score for both teams. The Lions don’t have the same hope that a fantasy football player might have where that tie could be broken days later due to a minor statistical correction or adjustment. The Lions didn’t win, they didn’t lose, they tied.

As odd as that feeling is to tie, they have to rebound against a beat-up Cleveland Browns team this week. D’Andre Swift was a fantasy football monster last week with 130 rushing yards. He will be needed again facing a tough Browns defense.

The fantasy issue continues to be the passing game for the Lions. T.J. Hockenson put up a goose egg in every receiving category on Sunday and only got one target his way during the entire game plus overtime. He has to find a way to be more dynamic and impactful across the board.

The big question marks on this game in regards to injuries lie with the Browns. Baker Mayfield (QB), Nick Chubb (RB), Kareem Hunt (RB), and Jarvis Landry (WR) are all dealing with injuries or COVID and their participation or lack thereof could have a tremendous impact on this game.

Two teams that are often laughed at by the rest of the NFL face off this week in Cleveland. Based on the injuries and uncertainties, put most of your fantasy players on the bench in this one and avoid this matchup as much as you can.

Start

  • Tom Brady vs Giants
  • Najee Harris at Chargers
  • CeeDee Lamb at Chiefs
  • George Kittle at Jaguars

Sit

  • Justin Fields vs Ravens
  • Antonio Gibson at Panthers
  • Chris Godwin vs Giants
  • Dallas Goedert vs Saints

Top 3 projected players by position

Quarterbacks

  • Lamar Jackson at Bears
  • Josh Allen vs Colts
  • Patrick Mahomes vs Cowboys

Running Backs

  • Christian McCaffrey vs Washington
  • Najee Harris at Chargers
  • Dalvin Cook vs Packers

Wide Receivers

  • Davante Adams at Vikings
  • Tyreek Hill vs Cowboys
  • Deebo Samuel at Jaguars

Tight Ends

  • Travis Kelce vs Cowboys
  • Darren Waller vs Bengals
  • Mark Andrews at Bears

Team Defenses

  • Dolphins at Jets
  • Ravens at Bears
  • Titans vs Texans

Kickers

  • Greg Joseph vs Packers
  • Nick Folk at Falcons
  • Tyler Bass vs Colts

Waiver wire options

  • Cam Newton (QB Panthers)
  • Taysom Hill (QB Saints)
  • Ronald Jones (RB Buccaneers)
  • Adrian Peterson (RB Titans)
  • Josh Reynolds (WR Lions)
  • Elijah Moore (WR Jets)
  • Darren Fells (TE Buccaneers)
  • Hayden Hurst (TE Falcons)

Intriguing games and players in Week 11

(Week 11 Bye Weeks: Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams) 

New England at Atlanta, Thursday 8:20 PM, EST

  • NE: Mac Jones (QB), Brandon Bolden (RB)
  • ATL: Kyle Pitts (TE), Russel Gage (WR)

Indianapolis at Buffalo, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST

  • IND: Michael Pittman (WR), Nyheim Hines (RB)
  • BUF: Josh Allen (QB), Zach Moss (RB)

Detroit at Cleveland, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST

  • DET: T.J. Hockenson (TE), Kalif Raymond (WR)
  • CLE: D’Ernest Johnson (RB), Austin Hooper (TE)

Green Bay at Minnesota, Sunday 1:00 PM, EST

  • GB: Aaron Rodgers (QB), A.J. Dillon (RB)
  • MIN: Kirk Cousins (QB), Dalvin Cook (RB)

Cincinnati at Las Vegas, Sunday 4:05 PM, EST

  • CIN: Joe Burrow (QB), Tyler Boyd (WR)
  • LVR: Derek Carr (QB), Darren Waller (TE)

Dallas at Kansas City, Sunday 4:25 PM, EST

  • DAL: Tony Pollard (RB), Michael Gallup (WR)
  • KC: Travis Kelce (TE), Mecole Hardman (WR)

Pittsburgh at LA Chargers, Sunday 8:20 PM, EST

  • PIT: Dionte Johnson (WR), Najee Harris (RB)
  • LAC: Justin Herbert (QB), Keenan Allen (WR)

NY Giants at Tampa Bay, Monday 8:15 PM, EST

  • NYG: Saquon Barkley (RB), Kenny Golladay (WR)
  • TB: Tom Brady (QB), Chris Godwin (WR)

Bottom Line

Most trade deadlines in fantasy leagues have passed, so you have who you have as your main players on your route to a fantasy football championship. You still need to work that waiver wire until the final week though to improve depth and manage the substantial amount of injuries that happen each and every week.

Patrick Mahomes (QB Chiefs), Christian McCaffrey (RB Panthers), and Saquon Barkley (RB Giants) will all be back on the field this week after rebounding from subpar play or injury. Watching the elite players play the game they love is alway fun aspect to enjoy when it comes to fantasy football.

Oh yeah, and one more thing.

Every true competition should have a winner and a loser. We can’t have a tie at the end. It doesn’t seem right and it doesn’t feel right. That seems like something more suited for European Futbol and not the NFL Football that we all love. It is never something to be happy about when you get a tie in a crucial fantasy football matchup in your league, but the Lions will take it though based on how their season has gone and all things considered.

Detroit Lions injury report: Tracy Walker, D’Andre Swift among 4 limited to start Week 11

Lions injury report: Tracy Walker, D’Andre Swift among 4 limited to start Week 11 practices

Detroit’s first injury report for the Week 11 matchup with the Cleveland Browns reveals a banged-up Lions offense. Wednesday’s practice saw starting quarterback Jared Goff sit out entirely, while top two running backs D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams were each limited with injuries.

Goff sat out with a strained oblique muscle he suffered in the Week 10 tie with the Steelers. It could keep him out for Sunday’s game. If Goff can’t go, Tim Boyle is the presumptive replacement.

Swift (shoulder) and Williams (thigh) are battling to get back on the field. Swift set a career-high with 130 yards rushing on 33 carries in Pittsburgh. Williams has missed the last two games with the thigh injury. In addition, rookie Jermar Jefferson sat out with the ankle injury he suffered scoring a touchdown and getting horse-collar tackled by Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

OLB Trey Flowers and OT Matt Nelson were also out. Starting safety Tracy Walker was limited, which is a good sign for the Lions’ top defensive back. He suffered a concussion in the Steelers game, but the fact he’s already practicing is promising for his ability to face the Browns on Sunday. Rookie CB Jerry Jacobs was a full participant. Jacobs, who starts opposite Amani Oruwariye, left Sunday’s tie with a groin issue.