Detroit, MI
Detroit Lions Downgrade Brian Branch to Doubtful vs. Seattle Seahawks
In an early Sunday morning bombshell one day before kickoff against the Seattle Seahawks, the Detroit Lions have added one of their best defensive players to the injury report.
According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, safety Brian Branch has been added to the report with a doubtful designation due to an illness. If he isn’t able to suit up, Brandon Joseph would be in line to make his first career NFL start.
Heading into the week, Branch already had been on the Lions initial injury report as he proceeded through concussion protocols. After passing those tests to return to the field, he wasn’t listed on the final injury report on Friday, indicating he would start on Monday night.
Now in his second season out of Alabama, Branch has enjoyed a fantastic start for Detroit, producing 22 tackles, an interception, and two tackles for loss in the first three games. Per Pro Football Focus, he also had recorded five pass breakups in coverage, the most by any safety so far in the NFL, with quarterbacks posting a dismal 54.9 passer rating when targeting him.
As versatile of a chess piece as there is in the league, Branch plays numerous roles for the Lions defensively, as evidenced by the fact he has played 57 snaps at strong safety, 63 at free safety, and 49 in the slot already in 2024. Joseph doesn’t offer the same type of positional flexibility and has only played in five regular season games in two NFL seasons, so Branch’s absence would undoubtedly be a major blow for defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to work around.
The Seahawks will enter Monday’s prime time matchup with the third-ranked passing attack in the NFL anchored by quarterback Geno Smith and receivers DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. On the flipside, the Lions have been average defending the pass, ranking 19th in yardage allowed so far with Branch in the lineup.
Without Branch, Seattle may have a better opportunity to attack downfield against a completely retooled Detroit cornerback group featuring three new starters in rookie Terrion Arnold as well as veteran free agent signings Carlton Davis and Amik Robertson. Tight ends could also have a bigger role without the Swiss army knife available to help cover Noah Fant, Pharaoh Brown, and AJ Barner, further opening up options for Smith to work with.
Detroit, MI
Detroit Auto Show opens as industry pares back splashy debuts and leans on test tracks
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Auto Show returns this week, offering an opportunity to take a peek at the cars of today and tomorrow and also go for a spin.
The annual car-fest at a Detroit convention hall features a lineup of 40-plus vehicle brands. At last year’s show, organizers say attendees took more than 100,000 rides in them.
“That’s what makes the Detroit Auto Show different,” show chairman Todd Szott said. “You can get up close, talk to the people behind the brands and actually experience the vehicles.”
The Detroit Auto Show once was the place for new model debuts, glitzy displays and scores of journalists from across the globe.
Automakers since have determined that new models can make a bigger splash when they’re unveiled to a digital audience on a day when they don’t have to share the spotlight with rivals.
While it has scaled back dramatically from its heyday, it still drew 275,000 attendees a year ago. And it is leaning into interactivity.
Two tracks offer attendees ride-along experiences in internal combustion engine, hybrid and electric vehicles, while the Camp Jeep and Ford Bronco Built Wild Experience give visitors a chance to climb into the vehicles and tackle some makeshift “mountains.”
The show gets underway Tuesday evening with vehicle announcements from Ford Motor Co. as part of the media and industry preview days. On Wednesday, the annual North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year will be revealed. The show opens to the public Saturday and runs through Jan. 25.
Visitors can check out displays under the Alfa Romeo, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, GMC, Jeep, Kia, Lincoln, Ram, Subaru and Toyota nameplates.
Speakers include Republican U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno from Ohio, and a pair of Democrats — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Pete Buttigieg, the Transportation Secretary under President Joe Biden.
Detroit, MI
Detroit man accused of fatally shooting two men in Tennessee
A Detroit man suspected of fatally shooting two men on a Tennessee highway in November was arrested Monday in Michigan, authorities said.
Dashonn Moten, 28, of Detroit was indicted on 17 criminal counts, including two counts each of first-degree murder and felony murder, Knoxville, Tennessee, police said in a social media post.
Moten is accused of killing Troy Hutchison, 33, of Atlanta and Rodrell Jeter, 25, of Detroit during an incident on the morning of Nov. 16 on Interstate 640 in Knoxville.
Moten also faces one count of attempted murder related to a third victim, a 22-year-old Detroit man, who was critically injured in the shooting, authorities said.
Detectives believe the victims were traveling from Detroit to Atlanta in a light-color Ford Bronco with a Michigan license plate, according to a press release issued in November. At that time, police were unsure of a motive or the relationship between the suspect and the victims.
Two days after the shooting, the Bronco was found abandoned in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, police said.
Moten was identified as a suspect based on an investigation that included dozen of interviews, a review of cellphone records and anonymous tips, authorities said.
U.S. Marshals took him into custody Monday in the Detroit area, according to authorities. He is expected to be extradited to Knox County.
mreinhart@detroitnews.com
@max_detroitnews
Detroit, MI
Detroit man arrested following manhunt for double murder in Tennessee
STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – A 28-year-old man from Detroit has been arrested for the murder of two people in Tennessee.
Troy Hutchinson and Rodrell Jeter were shot and killed Nov. 16, 2025, outside Nashville, Tennessee. A third man was hospitalized with critical injuries.
Police believe four men were traveling from Detroit to Atlanta in a Ford Bronco when the fourth man opened fire on the victims before leaving in the vehicle. The Bronco was found abandoned in Kentucky, just south of Cincinnati in Ohio.
Jeter and the man who was hospitalized were both from Detroit, while Hutchinson is from Atlanta.
A motive for the shooting remains unknown.
In late November, police identified the suspect as Dashonn Moten. He was indicted on 17 counts, including two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and two counts of felony murder.
After nearly two months, Moten was arrested Friday, Jan. 10, in Sterling Heights and is awaiting extradition to Tennessee for his arraignment.
If convicted, Moten faces possible execution.
Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
-
Detroit, MI1 week ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Technology1 week agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Montana3 days agoService door of Crans-Montana bar where 40 died in fire was locked from inside, owner says
-
Delaware4 days agoMERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
-
Dallas, TX5 days agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Dallas, TX1 week agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Iowa7 days agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Virginia3 days agoVirginia Tech gains commitment from ACC transfer QB