Detroit, MI
Detroit Lions stand pat at NFL trade deadline, expect boost from injured defenders
Lions’ Brad Holmes delivers commencement speech at North Carolina A&T
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes delivered the commencement speech at his alma mater, North Carolina A&T, on Saturday, May 10, 2025.
There was no Sauce Gardner equivalent available on the offensive line, so the Detroit Lions stood pat.
The Lions did not make a deal at the NFL trade deadline Tuesday, Nov. 4, for the first time since 2021, deciding to stick with their current roster while awaiting the return of several key defensive players, for a playoff run.
The Lions are 5-3 at the midpoint of the season, in second place in the NFC North and in control of the NFC’s final wild-card spot.
They have a host of injury concerns on their offensive line – left guard Christian Mahogany is out with a broken bone in his leg, and the availability of tackles Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell is uncertain for this week’s game against the Washington Commanders – and depth issues at cornerback, safety and defensive end.
But Mahogany could return in late December and the Lions expect to get three starters back on defense in the coming weeks.
Safety Kerby Joseph has missed two games with a bone bruise in his knee. Cornerback D.J. Reed is on injured reserve with a strained hamstring but has begun working out with trainers. And defensive end Marcus Davenport is closing in on a return to practice from a strained pectoral muscle.
The Lions also are expected to get backups defensive end Josh Paschal, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez and cornerback Khalil Dorsey back before the end of the season. Rodriguez, on the physically unable to perform list while recovering from the torn ACL he suffered last year, already has resumed practicing.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday adding those six players – Joseph is the only one currently on the active roster – is similar to making a trade at the deadline.
“Well, I mentioned this before,” Campbell said. “We’re going to start getting some good players back. Some really good impact players for us. …
“So we got some guys that are going to start coming back and that does give you a boost. I mean, that helps you. It only makes your team better, makes your roster better.”
Campbell acknowledged in his weekly radio interview Tuesday morning on WXYT-FM (97.1) that the Lions were looking for help on the offensive line but he said the price had to be right to consider a move.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes has been active at recent trade deadlines, adding depth to his roster in 2023-24 and dealing away tight end T.J. Hockenson for a swap of draft picks in 2022.
In 2023, the Lions added backup Donovan Peoples-Jones to a struggling wide receiver room – Jameson Williams had six catches in four games at the time after serving a suspension to start the year – for a sixth-round pick.
In 2024, the Lions traded two Day 3 picks for Za’Darius Smith and another late-round choice, helping a pass rush that had been decimated by injuries. Davenport, Aidan Hutchinson, linebacker Derrick Barnes and defensive tackle Kyle Peko all suffered season-ending injuries before the deadline last year.
The Lions aren’t in as dire a spot on their offensive line now, but the unit has been inconsistent through eight games, and Decker also is dealing with a shoulder injury that has nagged him all year.
With no moves Tuesday, the Lions likely will patch their offensive line from within. Kayode Awosika finished last week’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings at left guard, and Campbell said backups Trystan Colon and Kingsley Eguakun also will get a look in practice this week as the Lions try and decide how to best use their personnel up front. Center Graham Glasgow can play guard if the Lions prefer to have Colon or Eguakun handle snaps.
No NFC contenders made big moves at Tuesday’s deadline, though two of the conference’s top teams, the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers, made notable trades earlier this year. The Packers acquired star defensive end Micah Parsons before the season from the Dallas Cowboys, while the Eagles picked up pass rusher Jaelan Phillips from the Miami Dolphins on Monday – their fourth in-season trade this year.
The Cowboys, 3-5-1 and in second place in the NFC East, made one of Tuesday’s biggest deals, acquiring star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets for a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round choice and former Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
The Jets also dealt star cornerback and Detroit native Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts for two first-round choices. Two NFC contenders made more minor moves with the Chicago Bears adding defensive Joe Tryon-Shoyinka from the Cleveland Browns and the Seattle Seahawks adding receiver Rashid Shaheed from the New Orleans Saints.
The Lions did make two roster moves Tuesday, releasing offensive lineman Justin Herron from injured reserve and releasing tight end Kenny Yeboah from IR with an injury settlement.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
Want more Lions updates? Download our free app for the latest news, alerts, eNewspaper and more.
Murder and two related charges have been filed against a Detroit man in the aftermath of an altercation that left one man dead and his brother seriously injured.
Michael Alan Harris, 42, of Detroit was arraigned Tuesday in 36th District Court of Detroit on charges of first-degree murder, felony firearm and resisting and obstructing a police officer, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said.
The charges are related to the fatal shooting of Jalen Coats Stevens, 28, of Detroit, Worthy said. Stevens was pronounced dead at the scene of an altercation early Sunday in the 15900 block of Grand River Avenue.
During the altercation, Stevens’ brother, Glenn, was stabbed over a dozen times but survived. He has been in the hospital since. Hundreds of people gathered for a vigil hosted by the Stevens family Tuesday night outside of Chita’s Nefertiti bar. The brothers were celebrating a work promotion for Jalen Saturday night before the altercation erupted.
While it was known by Tuesday night that one person was in custody, the family asked the public and police to continue working on the investigation, as the person who had stabbed Glenn had not been located.
In the meantime, Harris is scheduled for a probable cause conference Jan. 14, and a preliminary exam is set for Jan. 21.
The above video originally aired Jan. 6.
Blough is only two years into his coaching career after retiring from playing after the 2023 season. He has spent the last two seasons as the Washington Commanders’ assistant quarterbacks coach, helping young quarterback Jayden Daniels emerge as a strong franchise player for Washington. Late in the 2025 season, Commanders quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard took the Stanford head coaching job, leaving Blough to serve as the interim quarterbacks coach for the rest of the season.
While backing up Jared Goff in Detroit, Blough was often described by the coaching staff as an excellent backup and strong offensive mind.
“I love the kid, if I’m being totally honest with you,” Campbell said back in 2021. “He’s just a little football player. And when I say that, I mean that in the highest regard. Look, he’s smart. He’s extremely smart. He knows where to go with the football, I love his timing. He knows how to command the huddle, he communicates well and on top of that, he’s a hell of a dude, by the way. He just is. So, he has not disappointed. He’s doing a good job. He’s out there competing with the rest of those guys.”
As of now, this is the only known candidate for the Lions’ offensive coordinator position, but it’s still early in the process. When more candidates emerge, we’ll have a tracker so you can see all of the names in one place.
Longtime Detroit sports radio host and columnist Pat Caputo has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, he announced Monday.
Caputo, a host on Detroit’s 97.1 The Ticket, last published a column on Nov. 7. On Monday, he explained the reason behind his absence.
“For those wondering where I’ve been: I have been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, commonly referred to as a “death sentence” and had two other serious ailments which put me in ICU for several days,” Caputo wrote in a post to X. “It was sudden. I’ve literally been on my back for weeks. Bless you all.”
Caputo, 66, became a well-known personality in Detroit sports media during his time as an award-winning columnist for The Oakland Press from 1983-2020, according to the Detroit Free Press. He also was previously part of WXYT’s “Evening Sports” broadcast, and is an official voter for the Baseball Hall of Fame and college football’s Heisman Trophy award, according to his X bio.
Caputo is nicknamed “The Book” for his impressive memory retaining sports stats and information, according to FOX 2 in Detroit, where he has been a regular guest on its “Sports Works” broadcast.
Caputo’s social media announcement regarding his health drew support from fellow sports media professionals, including Brad Galli, sports director at WXYZ Detroit, and ESPN’s Dan Wetzel and Dave Pasch.
“Pat, we’re praying for [you],” Galli wrote. “Awful awful awful to read this, man. God bless you.”
“Legend. Stay strong my friend. So much support out here for you,” Wetzel posted.
“Book, praying for you my friend. So sorry to hear this,” Pasch wrote.
Maine mill accepts N.B. wood again, but producers still struggle to stay afloat | CBC News
Open Thread: IU basketball travels to Maryland seeking first road win
Michigan Lottery contributions over $1B to K-12 schools for 7th year in a row, state says
Massachusetts police officer struck and killed in line of duty; department mourns
Can Minnesota prosecute the federal immigration officer who just killed a woman?
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
San Diego sues to stop border barrier construction
How Ukraine is shaping Europe’s response to Trump’s Greenland threats
GOP gearing up to face tough midterms. And, Pentagon reviews women in ground combat
Wyoming Supreme Court rules laws restricting abortion violate state constitution
How strong are Latin America’s military forces, as they face US threats?
-
World1 week agoHamas builds new terror regime in Gaza, recruiting teens amid problematic election
-
News1 week agoFor those who help the poor, 2025 goes down as a year of chaos
-
Science1 week agoWe Asked for Environmental Fixes in Your State. You Sent In Thousands.
-
Business1 week agoA tale of two Ralphs — Lauren and the supermarket — shows the reality of a K-shaped economy
-
Detroit, MI4 days ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Politics1 week agoCommentary: America tried something new in 2025. It’s not going well
-
Politics1 week agoMarjorie Taylor Greene criticizes Trump’s meetings with Zelenskyy, Netanyahu: ‘Can we just do America?’
-
Health1 week agoRecord-breaking flu numbers reported in New York state, sparking warnings from officials