Tag: Detroit Lions

Kamari Lassiter injury update: Will Texans CB return vs. Lions?

Kamari Lassiter will not return for the Houston Texans on Sunday Night Football.

The Houston Texans had Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff in a blender of concerns to close out the first half, but one of the top defenders left early in Week 10.

The team’s No. 2, Kamari Lassiter, suffered left the third quarter against the NFC North favorites with a head injury and did not return. The Lions have gained momentum with the former Georgia star sidelined.

Here’s what to know about Lassiter’s injury and his status for the rest of the Week 10 game and beyond.

Kamari Lassiter injury update

Lassiter left with just over four minutes remaining in the third quarter after running into defensive back Jimmie Ward when trying to make a tackle. While it looked as if he was holding his shoulder while walking into the blue medical teat.

When exiting the tent, the second-round pick was holding his head and headed to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion.

The Texans ruled him out early in the fourth quarter for a concussion. Lassiter now must enter concussion protocol before he can return.

Who is Kamari Lassiter’s backup on Texans depth chart?

Cornerback remains one of the weakest positions of depth, espeically considering that Jeff Okudah was ruled out before the game and the Texans released D’Angelo Ross earlier this week.

Derek Stingley Jr. has commanded one side of the field, but Houston called upon Ka’Dar Hollmon as the new No. 2. Behind him, Houston has M.J. Stewart and Kris Boyd, but both are more known for their skills on speical teams.

Kamari Lassiter stats

Lassiter exited Sunday’s contest with one tackle, a pass breakup and two interceptions, including one to close out the first half. For the season, Lassiter has totaled seven pass deflections and three interceptions.

Is Nico Collins playing tonight? Latest injury updates for Texans WR

Nico Collins is dealing with a hamstring injury entering Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Lions.

The Houston Texans return home for Sunday Night Football in what could be a potential Super Bowl preview vs. the Detroit Lions. While the Texans will have Tank Dell back in the lineup, one player could be out for another week.

Despite being activated off the injured reserve, wide receiver Nico Collins was always going to be a game-time decision. Will the Texans’ top target be able to play in Week 10 against the NFC favorites?

That’s the only question Texans and Lions fans alike will want answered ahead of their primetime clash at NRG Stadium.

Nico Collins injury update

Collins, who missed the past four games with a hamstring injury, was officially designated to return on Friday. That opened a 21-day window during which Collins could practice with the Texans without taking up space on the team’s 53-man roster.

On Saturday, the Texans activated him to the 53-man roster, but still listed him as questionable for Sunday’s game. His status was always expected to be murky, especially given that he hadn’t gone through a full practice in nearly a month.

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans was noncommittal when questioned about the 25-year-old’s status for Sunday’s contest against the NFC North leaders.

“Nico, he’s doing good,” Ryans said after Wednesday’s practice. “We’ll see where he ends up.”

On Sunday, the Texans listed him as inactive. He’ll need a bit more time to recover before taking the field.

When will Nico Collins return?

Barring a setback, it’s expected that Collins will be cleared for Monday’s Lone Star showdown at AT&T Stadium against the Dallas Cowboys. Houston’s being patient with its No. 1 receiver, knowing its next three contests will bode in its favor.

Second-year receiver Tank Dell, who also appeared on the injury report with a back injury, is good to go. He’ll serve as the No. 1 weapon for C.J. Stroud against a pesky but penalty-riddled Lions’ secondary.

Nico Collins stats

Collins, who last played in Week 5’s win over the Buffalo Bills, caught a 67-yard touchdown pass from Stroud in the first quarter before leaving for the remainder of the evening. He entered Week 5 as the NFL leader in receiving yards with 567. Collins also ranked third in catches with 32 and led the Texans with three receiving touchdowns.

Texans WR depth chart?

With Collins sidelined and two-time All-Pro Stefon Diggs on the season-ending injured reserve, here’s a look at the Texans receiving depth chart entering Week 10.

  • Tank Dell
  • Robert Woods
  • John Metchie III
  • Xavier Hutchinson
  • Steven Sims

Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik praised Dell’s performance after taking over as the leading receiver last Thursday.

Since Diggs’ departure, Dell has collected 10 catches for 141 yards and one touchdown on 13 targets.

“He took advantage of some matchups, and some plays worked out where we had given him plenty of opportunities in the last three or four weeks,” Slowik said. “Sometimes, you can’t control the coverage.” 

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on NBC. 

Za’Darius Smith not expected to play Sunday vs. Texans

Za’Darius Smith’s debut likely on hold for a week, but he at least gets his week off.

Lions fans will have to wait a week to see the debut of new edge rusher Za’Darius Smith. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Smith, who was acquired by the Lions on Tuesday just before the trade deadline, will not play Sunday night against the Houston Texans.

Rapoport reports Smith is “not quite ready.” This could also be a case of the Lions giving Smith some time off. The Browns did not have their bye week before making this trade and the Lions have already had their bye week.

In other words, if Smith had played today, he would have potentially not had his own bye week and could have played 18 games. So this could also be simple load management by the Lions.

Former USC receiver makes NFL history, sets sights on bigger goals

Amon-Ra St. Brown continues to go above and beyond for the barrier-busting Detroit Lions, who have more milestones in front of them.

Another week, another piece of history made by a USC football alumnus in the NFL. Last Sunday, former USC wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown became the fastest player in Detroit Lions history to reach 4,000 career receiving yards. St. Brown hit the mark in just 57 games played.

St. Brown starred at USC from 2018-2020. His best statistical season came as a sophomore in 2019, when he had over 1,000 yards receiving. During the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, St. Brown caught 41 passes for 478 yards and seven touchdowns—including the game-winner against UCLA—despite the Trojans playing just six games.

Despite his standout college career, however, St. Brown fell to the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft, largely due to concerns over his size. Ever since, he has been making the teams that passed on him pay, quickly emerging as one of the best wide receivers in the league.

St. Brown has had over 900 yards receiving in each of his three full NFL seasons. Last year, he had his best campaign to date, catching 119 passes for 1,515 yards and ten touchdowns.

Now, St. Brown has a place in the Lions’ history book. For the same franchise that had Calvin Johnson for nearly a decade, that’s a pretty impressive mark to have.

St. Brown’s next — and biggest — goal: bringing the Detroit Lions their first-ever Super Bowl appearance. The Lions have the best record in the NFC and have a strong chance of hosting the NFC Championship Game, something which has never happened before.

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Adam Schefter threw cold water on idea of Ben Johnson becoming Bears head coach in 2025

Would Ben Johnson really coach the Bears? Adam Schefter is doubtful.

As a firestorm of controversy engulfs incumbent Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus, some folks have already connected the dots about red-hot Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson potentially coaching the Bears in 2025.

But during a conversation on ESPN’s Get Up Thursday morning, Adam Schefter was (rightfully) unsure that Johnson would leave a perfect situation in Detroit only to expose himself to the Bears’ rampant dysfunction. Honestly, given how the Bears have continually got in their own way over the years, Schefter makes a great point.

Even coaching the talented Caleb Williams can’t be that attractive for a coordinator who could have a head-coaching job absolutely anywhere he wants:

While it’s worth noting that Schefter isn’t exactly reporting anything here — which doesn’t rule out the possibility of Johnson coming to Chicago — everything he says does ring true.

Should Johnson choose to leave Detroit this winter, he will be one of the hottest NFL head-coaching candidates in a long time. And with a candidate like that, everyone with an opening will want to bring Johnson to their organization. But that doesn’t mean he’ll seriously entertain everyone. Johnson is so exceptional that he can afford to be patient selective.

If he takes an interview, it’s probably with the intent of eventually taking that job. And in that regard, why would Johnson potentially sink himself by coming to the Bears? It doesn’t make much sense.

Buckle up, Bears fans. Something tells me this little saga is just getting started.

Film Study: Lions new DE Za’Darius Smith is a near-perfect fit for the Lions defense

Film Study: Lions new DE Za’Darius Smith is a near-perfect fit for the Lions defense

It’s been a few weeks in the making but the Detroit Lions finally made the trade with the Cleveland Browns for Za’Darius Smith. Adding the talented defensive end was much needed after the Lions lost Aidan Hutchinson for the season due to his leg injury.

With this addition, the Lions are getting a veteran defender that has started more than 80 games in his career. During that time, he has over 300 tackles and 65 sacks. The former 4th round pick from the 2015 NFL Draft has found success playing for the Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns.

Currently, Smith is playing on a 2-year contract worth a total of $23 million dollars. For the Lions, most of that money has been paid out from the Browns so currently, Smith will count as a $605,000 cap hit for the Lions (per Spotrac). There is an option for the Lions to let him go after the season, if it isn’t a fit and it wouldn’t cost them anything in dead cap money. If the Lions decided to bring him back for 2025 to pair with Hutchinson, it would only cost them a cap hit of $5.4 million dollars.

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So, the tenured player has been a productive player and has more than a reasonable contract for the Lions. But what does he bring to the team? Let’s jump into some film to see what Smith will provide the Lions defense moving forward!

 

During the absence of Hutchinson, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has done a good job getting creative to generate pressure. Whether it be blitzing from all angles or designing a variation of line stunts, Glenn is doing whatever he can to form some type of pass rush.

Now his job gets somewhat easier to execute that game plan with the addition of Za’Darius Smith. Looking at the play above, you’ll see Za’Darius Smith (Browns DE 99) executing a T/E stunt for the Browns defense last season against the Texans.

Watch as he loops inside; he has more than enough speed and burst to get through the hole and close to the quarterback. Fortunately for the quarterback, he’s able to get the pass the ball while throwing off his back foot. However, it’s 3rd-and-long, and it’s one of those plays where Smith interrupts the timing, and it could lead to a sack or turnover. Adding that to a defense that is 2nd in the NFL with 11 interceptions on defense could do wonders for this unit.

 

Jumping into some tape from this year, one thing that immediately stood out with Smith is how he provides alignment versatility. He can play in a wide-9, tilt-5 and pretty much anywhere else a defensive coordinator wants to put him.

Looking at the play above, you’ll see Smith (Browns DE 99) align standing up over the right tackle as a 5-technique. However, he’s aimed or tilted towards the right guard. As he goes to rip across the face of the right guard, his pad level is a bit too high but he does his job by collapsing the middle as an interior pass rusher.

This works perfectly as there’s an outside rush from two defenders with wide alignments. This forces the quarterback to step up in the pocket and this is where he’s met by Smith for the sack.

 

Lastly, I want to highlight Smith’s ability to stop the run. Looking at the play above from a game against the Ravens this year, we’ll see Smith (Browns DE 99) is aligned over the tight end to the right of the formation.

Once the ball is snapped, Smith displays good burst while being able to rip across the face of the tight end. In the process, he bends down the line-of-scrimmage and helps make the tackle.

Having Smith present on the Lions defensive line won’t just help with generating a pass rush. He will also assist in stopping the run and teams will have to find ways to block him.

Overall, this deal had to be done by the Lions. They needed help up front for their defense and they should get it moving forward. So far this season, Smith has played 324 defensive snaps (per PFF).

This has led to 5 sacks and 27 pressures for Smith this season. From PFF, he’s earned a 73.6 overall grade and a 71.1 pass rush grade. Certainly, Smith is not graded as highly as Aidan Hutchinson but he will enter as the highest graded edge defender that is active on the team right now.

Pairing Smith with Alim McNeill, DJ Reader, Josh Paschal and the rest of their defensive line combinations should do wonders for this Lions defense. Having a defensive end that can turn speed-to-power, align anywhere on the line-of-scrimmage and execute the designed line stunts will be impactful. This move was the correct one by the Lions franchise and it should pay off in a big way for the next year and a half.

Texans schedule: Who is Houston playing in Week 10?

Are the Houston Texans playing this week? Here’s a look at the schedule and the games to come. 

The Houston Texans must respond following their 21-13 loss to the New York Jets in Week 9.

Things won’t get easier for the AFC South favorites as they welcome in one of the league’s top rosters on primetime off nine days of rest.

Who is next on the schedule to kickstart the month of November? Let’s discuss below.

Who will the Texans play in Week 10 of the NFL schedule?

Houston takes on the Detroit Lions on Halloween at NRG Stadium. This marks the first time the two programs take on each other for the first time in four years.

The Texans (6-3) might be three games above .500, but they’ve struggled to find balance each week. Joe Mixon rushed for over 100 yards for the fifth time this season, while C.J. Stroud threw for less than 200 yards and never found his way into the end zone.

Few teams are as hot as the Lions, who recently acquired defensive end Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns before Tuesday’s 3 p.m. deadline. Winners of six straight, Detroit is coming off a 10-point victory against the Green Bay Packers, who bested Houston in Week 7.

The Lions will also be gaining back speedy threat Jameson Williams, who was reinstated following his two-game suspension. Houston could be without both defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and receiver Nico Collins.

Texans 2024 schedule

  • Sept. 8: at Indianpolis (W, 29-27)
  • Sept. 15: vs. Chicago (W, 19-13)
  • Sept. 22: at Minnesota (L, 34-7)
  • Sept. 29: vs. Jacksonville (W, 24-20)
  • Oct. 6: vs. Buffalo (W, 23-20)
  • Oct. 13: at New England (W, 41-21)
  • Oct. 20: at Green Bay (L, 24-22)
  • Oct. 27: vs. Indianpolis (W, 23-20)
  • Oct. 31: at New York Jets (L, 21-13)
  • Nov. 10: vs. Detriot
  • Nov. 18: at Dallas
  • Nov. 24: vs. Tennessee
  • Dec. 1: at Jacksonville
  • Dec. 8: Bye Week
  • Dec. 15: vs. Miami
  • Dec. 21: at Kansas City
  • Dec. 25: vs. Baltimore
  • Jan. 6: at Tennessee
  • Record: 6-3

AFC North rival trades away star DE at deadline

The Cleveland Browns have traded away their star DE Za’Darius Smith to the Detroit Lions at the trade deadline.

While three-quarters of the AFC North continue to build up their rosters for potential playoff runs, the Cleveland Browns appear to be selling their 2024 seasonal aspirations, as the team has traded away one of their star players at the trade deadline.

Cleveland is sending DE Za’Darius Smith and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick to the Detroit Lions in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round and a 2026 sixth-round draft pick, per insider Ian Rapoport.

Considering how talented and established Smith is off the edge, the Lions have been gifted the deal of a lifetime. Detroit was in dire need of an edge rusher, as their elite DE Aiden Hutchinson suffered a season-ending broken left tibia in Week 6.

Will Cleveland continue to sell their 2024 roster as the 4:00 PM EST deadline inches ever closer? While it appears to be another case of Juju Smith-Schuster’s infamous line, ‘the Browns is the Browns,’ Pittsburgh is likely laser-focused on the trade deadline themselves, as the team has been linked to both wide receiver trade targets and defensive depth in recent days.

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Za’Darius Smith trade grades: Who won the Lions-Browns deal?

The Lions got a proven pass rusher, but can Smith thrive without Myles Garrett next to him?

The Detroit Lions needed defensive reinforcements. Aidan Hutchinson’s broken leg left the team’s edge rushing punchless. Despite wins in Weeks 8 and 9, the Lions managed just a single sack in that span.

The Cleveland Browns needed draft assets. Cleveland’s 2024 was declared a write-off somewhere around the moment the franchise traded for Deshaun Watson, even if we didn’t know it at the time. At 2-7, the hopes of repeating last season’s playoff appearance had been effectively distinguished.

This made the two sides obvious dance partners. Roughly eight hours before the 2024 NFL trade deadline, they tangoed. Veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith moved north for a 2025 fifth round selection and a late-draft swap come 2026.

Let’s make some snap judgments about the deal.

The Za’Darius Smith trade details

  • Lions get: EDGE Za’Darius Smith, 2026 seventh round pick
  • Browns get: 2025 fifth round pick, 2026 sixth round pick

Lions grade

Smith isn’t the game changer Hutchinson was, but he’s a rock solid veteran who can fill a gap at a low cost. Cleveland was reportedly asking for a fourth round selection, but instead settled for a fifth and a 2026 late-round pick swap. In exchange, the Lions get a former Pro Bowler who can start in their 2024 playoff push and settle into a rotational role in 2026 if necessary.

Smith’s five sacks are 2.5 more than any healthy player on the Detroit roster, but they’re a bit of a mirage. They came alongside only seven quarterback hits, which suggests he’s been more lucky than consistent — for example, he had 5.5 sacks in 2023 on 20 QB hits, which was unlucky, and 10 sacks on 24 QB hits in 2022, which is roughly what you’d expect. His eight quick pressures (under three seconds) rank 40th among NFL pass rushers this fall. This furthers the idea he’s a good, but not quite great, addition.

Fortunately, the Lions don’t need great. They’ve got a boatload of talent across the board. What they need is someone who can get to the quarterback after logging only a single sack the last two games. That’s Smith. The question now is whether he can continue to succeed in a defense that doesn’t have Myles Garrett creating nightmares on the opposite corner.

Grade: B+

Browns grade

Cleveland’s brief foray into respectability ended in Week 9 thanks to a stomping from the Los Angeles Chargers. That made Smith an obvious candidate to depart.

This will be a bummer for Garrett, who continues to be an absolute headache for opponents but now has to trudge through the Browns’ 2024 swamp without Smith or emerging linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury. With those two gone, there isn’t another non-interior lineman on the Cleveland roster with more than four quarterback pressures this season.

But it’s tough to worry about another hole in the hull when the Browns had already scuttled this ship. The return could have been better, but it’s still solid enough. Cleveland got draft assets for a roster that badly needs inexpensive starters around Watson’s fully guaranteed contract to be the NFL’s 37th-best quarterback after more than 20 accusations of sexual misconduct and what the NFL itself described as “predatory behavior.” This is a tear down, so losing a support beam like Smith isn’t a big deal.

Grade: B

NFL Trade Deadline: Lions acquire Browns DE Za’Darius Smith for playoff run

The Detroit Lions have acquired Cleveland Browns pass rusher Za’Darius Smith ahead of the NFL Trade Deadline

In a move that could make Detroit the favorites in the NFC and show that Andrew Berry is waiving the white flag, the Lions have acquired pass rusher Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns for late-round draft picks.

Smith, 32, has played for the Ravens, Packers, and Vikings and previously stated that he’d welcome a trade to Detroit since it would allow him to compete directly with two of his former teams.

Smith has five sacks in eight games this season and gives Detroit the perfect replacement for Aidan Hutchinson, who’s out with a fractured fibula.

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