Detroit, MI

Detroit Lions’ path to Super Bowl will go through San Francisco

Published

2 years ago

January 21, 2024

Detroit Lions’ path to Super Bowl will go through San Francisco

ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions’ path to the Super Bowl will go through San Francisco.

The top-seeded 49ers stormed back to beat the seventh-seeded Green Bay Packers 24-21 on Saturday night, clinching their spot in the NFC championship game. They’ll host the winner of Detroit and Tampa Bay, who square off in a divisional game on Sunday afternoon at Ford Field.

The Lions have enjoyed a tremendous home-field advance this season, and the noise reached record levels for their wild-card win against the Los Angeles Rams last weekend. They would have hosted the NFC championship game too had Green Bay prevailed on Saturday night, and the Packers led for most of the evening. But rookie kicker Anders Carlson missed a 41-yard field goal wide left in the fourth quarter, then the 49ers responded with a 12-play, 69-yard drive that was capped by a 6-yard touchdown by Christian McCaffrey with 1:07 remaining in the game.

With that, the Lions are set to host their final game of the season against Tampa. If they prevail in that game, they’ll head to San Francisco for a play-in game to the Super Bowl.

The Lions haven’t faced the 49ers since giving them all they could handle in the first game of the Dan Campbell regime in 2021, storming back from a 41-17 deficit in the final two minutes to pull within 41-33, before finally bowing out on a fourth-and-9 misfire from Jared Goff at San Francisco’s 24-yard line.

Of course, a whole lot has changed since. Only 18 players who saw a snap in that game for Detroit are currently on the 53-man roster — a total rebuild that has now propelled the Lions to their first playoff win in 32 years. Win a second straight playoff game for the first time since 1957, and Detroit will be headed to San Francisco, with a trip to Las Vegas at stake.

Source link

Click to comment

Detroit, MI

Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield seeking residents’ input on community issues at first town hall

Published

9 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Press Room

Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield seeking residents’ input on community issues at first town hall

Julia Avant

December 1, 2025 / 11:31 PM EST
/ CBS Detroit

After making history as the first woman elected mayor of Detroit, Mary Sheffield held her first town hall ahead of taking office to get the residents’ insight on community issues.

For the first time, a mayor is taking thoughts from the community and turning them into potential policies. And those residents will have a say on what Sheffield will focus on in her first 100 days in office.

“The most important thing for me is not making history, it’s about delivering and executing for the residents of this city,” Sheffield said.

Sheffield and her team have already formed over a dozen committees focusing on topics like affordable housing and public safety.

At a first-of-its-kind community engagement event at Marygrove Conservancy on Monday night, anyone in Detroit had the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas and be a part of the solution.

“For a long time, from what I heard from residents, they have felt a little disconnected. I think this being for the first start for residents to be engaged with the mayor-elect is pretty impressive; it’s necessary,” said resident Jai Singletary.

While some residents appreciated the opportunity to have a seat at the table, they want to see what will actually be done.

Overall, Sheffield says she has received a lot of feedback. While she and her administration plan to hold more gatherings like this one, she also welcomes everyone and anyone to join her team.

“We have a lot of people who are eager to provide and step up and serve Detroit, and now it’s about getting the best cabinet,” said Sheffield.

The mayor-elect plans to hold similar events in the future and welcomes everyone to leave feedback at any time on the city’s website.

A citywide survey will be sent out to every resident in Detroit to get a consensus of what the community wants.

Source link

Detroit, MI

Detroit Lions start evaluation clock on veteran tight end

Published

21 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Press Room

Detroit Lions start evaluation clock on veteran tight end

The Detroit Lions have started the injury evaluation clock on veteran tight end Shane Zylstra, who returned to practice on Monday.

Zylstra suffered an ankle injury during the team’s Week 2 game against the Chicago Bears and has been on injured reserve since. For most of the year, the Lions were able to get by without Zylstra, as he was the team’s TE3 behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright.

However, LaPorta is now most likely out for the season after back surgery, and Wright’s season is in danger of being cut short, as well. Wright suffered a trachea injury against the New York Giants, hasn’t practiced since, and coach Dan Campbell noted that it could be a long-term injury, as they await more test results and second opinions.

That’s all to say that Zylstra’s return is coming at a good time for the Lions. Last week, they relied on Ross Dwelley, Anthony Firkser, and undrafted rookie Zach Horton to fill their tight end vacancies.

It’s unclear how quickly Zylstra can get up to speed and in football shape, but if he can go, he gives the Lions a player with 31 games of experience in this offensive system, including three starts for the team. A former wide receiver, Zylstra is definitely more of an offensive weapon than a blocker—he had four touchdown catches in 2022. But he’s also someone who can contribute on special teams, should the Lions need more juice in that aspect of their game. Since landing in Detroit in 2021, Zylstra has logged a total of 361 special teams snaps.

Source link

Detroit, MI

Catholic Central’s Samson Gash on Michigan State commitment: ‘Who knows?’

Published

1 day ago

December 1, 2025

Press Room

Catholic Central’s Samson Gash on Michigan State commitment: ‘Who knows?’

Detroit ― Samson Gash was clutching onto the Division 1 state championship trophy following a dominating performance by Detroit Catholic Central on Sunday night at Ford Field.

Now, following Catholic Central’s 42-19 victory over Detroit Cass Tech in Gash’s high-school finale, will he be letting go of his verbal commitment to Michigan State following the firing of head coach Jonathan Smith earlier Sunday?

Gash, the top-ranked receiver in the state, acknowledged his phone was blowing up before Sunday’s title game, and he had to put it on “mute” to focus on the task at hand. But he also acknowledged he has some decisions to make.

“It’s kind of hard, because there’s a lot of schools that’ve been texting me now that they think I’m back on the market,” Gash told The Detroit News on Sunday night. “It’s been tough, like, trying to think about the decision, but I’m just trying to postpone that till after the season and just have fun with my guys.

“And I’ll make that decision after the season.”

So, is he back on the market?

“I’d say I’m looking around for sure,” said Gash, whose older brother, Caleb, is a defensive back at Michigan State.

Smith was fired Sunday afternoon, following two seasons at Michigan State, and a 9-15 record, 4-14 in the Big Ten. A new coach, likely former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald, will get to pick his own staff, and Gash said he’s paying attention on that front ― specifically receivers coach Courtney Hawkins, Gash’ lead recruiter.

“He’s been on me forever,” Gash said. “I love that dude and hopefully he stays.”

Hawkins has been on Michigan State’s staff through the past three head coaches, Mel Tucker, interim head coach Harlon Barnett, and Smith.

Gash, who had five catches for 25 yards and an electric 48-yard punt return in Sunday’s win over Cass Tech, committed to Michigan State in June. He’s one of two four-star recruits who committed to Smith for 2026, along with Arizona offensive tackle Collin Campbell, with the first day of the early signing period Wednesday. MSU had 20 commitments as of Saturday.

Gash did recently take a visit to Alabama, as his stock has risen recently. Speed is a big reason why. He’s the state’s reigning 100-meter champion. He said Sunday he plans to defend his track title in the spring. That’s a no-brainer, even if he fancies himself a football player who runs track, not the other way around. More up in the air, his college choice.

“(There’s) a lot of uncertainty at Michigan State,” said Gash, who’s a strong candidate for Mr. Football in Michigan, along with his marquee-matchup opponent Sunday, Cass Tech receiver/defensive back Corey Sadler Jr., who’s committed to North Carolina. “I’m gonna see how everything plays out, and who knows?”

Gash and younger brother Gideon Gash, a junior who had a monster game in the state championship game with three receiving touchdowns, are the sons of former Penn State player, Super Bowl winner and Lions assistant coach Sam Gash. One other brother, Isaiah Gash, was a running back at Michigan.

tpaul@detroitnews.com

@tonypaul1984

Source link