Detroit, MI
NFL Combine observations: Why Keldric Faulk might work for Lions in first round
The NFL Combine is officially off and running, with the first player media sessions taking place in Indianapolis on Wednesday. Here are some Detroit Lions-centric observations from the group, which included defensive tackles, edge players and linebackers.
▶ On paper, defensive lineman Keldric Faulk (Auburn) fits like a glove with the Lions in the first round. He rushes with power and is stout against the run, and he won’t be 21 years old until September, offering a clear development track. But he only produced 10 sacks over three collegiate season, including two in 2025. He’s well aware of his current limitations, and he has a plan for growth: “Mastering the skills that I already have,” Faulk said when asked how he wants to improve as a pass rusher. “I’m a power rusher, truly in and out. I feel like whenever I step up on that field, of course, I’m going to have some type of finesse to me, as far as speed rushes. But I do feel like I have to master that power in order for me to elevate my game.” Faulk said what sets him apart is his ability to play every defensive line position. For the Lions, he’d make sense on the edge, opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
▶ One of the more energetic personalities on display during Wednesday’s media session was that of defensive end Zion Young (Missouri), who repeatedly called reporters “big man” and spoke on a number of things that were likely music to the Lions’ ears. Young, who began his career at Michigan State (2022-23), talked about how rushing the passer is a “privilege” earned through stopping the run, which figures to be his immediate strength at the NFL level. He talked about how he’s “very serious” in practice.
And the former Tigers captain, heavily projected to go early in the second round, explained why it was “very important” for him to play in Missouri’s bowl game rather than opt out to focus on draft preparation. “I couldn’t let my teammates down,” he said. “I got that ‘C’ on my chest for a reason. When I’m all in, I’m all in.”
▶ Asked to describe his biggest strength as a prospect, linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. (LSU) pointed to his speed, which the Lions could certainly use more of on their defense next season. Perkins played both on the edge — he racked up 65 pressures and 13 sacks over his first two seasons in Baton Rouge — and off the ball, making him a potential fit for strong-side (SAM) linebacker in Detroit’s defensive scheme. “I’ve always felt I was versatile,” Perkins said. “I never put myself in a box. I’ve always felt like I could do a little bit of everything.” Perkins, projected as a mid-round selection in April’s draft, is currently ranked as the No. 117 player on the NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board.
▶ Speaking of speed and athleticism, linebacker Kyle Louis (Pitt), a converted safety, has plenty of it. He grew up watching Jabrill Peppers and modeled his style after the former Michigan standout. Lately, he’s admired the work of Seattle’s Nick Emmanwori and Houston’s Jalen Pitre. When Louis first moved to linebacker, he studied Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who has since had his career derailed by injuries but was a Pro Bowler for the Cleveland Browns in 2023.
At Pitt, the specific position Louis played was called the “star,” a hybrid role that mixes linebacker and safety responsibilities. “The star is not a position for everybody,” Louis said. “It’s not a position for pure linebackers or pure DBs. You’ve really just got to be a mix of both of it. I feel like the position was perfectly tailored for me.” We recently saw what drafting Emmanwori did for Seattle’s defense. Louis isn’t seen as the prospect Emmanwori was, but he offers a similar skill set as a mid-round addition.
Lions coach Dan Campbell on new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing
Dan Campbell says Drew Petzing “has been getting together with (Jared) Goff.”
▶ Another converted safety from this year’s linebacker class is Sonny Styles (Ohio State), who became full-time at his new position in 2024. Detroit could potentially be in the market for a starter like Styles if it parts ways with Alex Anzalone in free agency. He possesses a versatile skill set — including IQ — that defensive coordinators dream of, and his presence in coverage could certainly help ease the pain of potentially losing a player with Anzalone’s coverage ability. “I think I can do a lot for a defense from that second level,” he said.
Current projections have Styles slated as a top-15 pick, making it entirely possible he falls to Detroit in the first round, if not only because of the position he plays. Just for perspective on Styles’ hype: His player comp on NFL.com, which tends to err on the side of caution, is four-time All-Pro Fred Warner.
▶ One of the top defensive linemen from this year’s draft provided some important intel on one of the top center prospects, a critical area of need for Detroit entering the offseason. Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks said college teammate Jake Slaughter, a projected Day 2 or early Day 3 pick, is “smart as hell. … This guy, he knows the game in and out.” The Lions could, in theory, be looking at both prospects. Banks is a projected first-rounder who could be of interest to Detroit at No. 17.
“Jake Slaughter, he’s a dog, bro. We used to go at it every single day. Sometimes I’d be like, ‘Damn, you got me, Jake.’ … I’m glad I had him lined up across from me. Iron sharpens iron, and he’s a great player. A great, great player.”
▶ Defensive tackle Kaleb Proctor (Southeastern Louisiana) spent all four of his collegiate seasons at the FCS level, but it wasn’t due to a lack of FBS interest. Proctor chose to stay at Southeastern Louisiana rather than leveling up in the transfer portal, he explained. “I came in on a great freshman class. These are dudes that will be in my wedding one day. It was no doubt who I’m going to play beside my senior year,” Proctor said when asked about his choice to remain at his original school. “Your last college season, who do you want to play beside? Some new guys or the guys that you’ve built a bond with for three years? It was definitely a no-doubter.”
That’s real-life loyalty in action, someone playing for something bigger than himself. Proctor posted 43 tackles (13 for loss), nine sacks and 39 pressures during his senior season, along with 11 run stops. If the Lions are looking for a late-round interior defender to mold, Proctor could be an ideal candidate.
nbianchi@detroitnews.com, rsilva@detroitnews.com
@nolanbianchi, @rich_silva18
Archbishop Edward Weisenburger and Fr. Mario Amore on restructuring
Archbishop Edward Weisenburger and Fr. Mario Amore on the archdiocese restructuring on Nov. 17, 2025 in Detroit
The list of Catholic parishes targeted for the possible stoppage of weekend Masses has grown to about 90 parishes across southeast Michigan, according to the latest proposed models the Archdiocese of Detroit has released as part of its major restructuring process.
The archdiocese released on Thursday the models for potential parish groupings for the six remaining planning areas in the archdiocese, and 32 parishes wouldn’t have weekend Mass under at least one of the models. Previously released models showed that 58 other parishes could stop holding weekend Mass.
The Archdiocese of Detroit recently completed listening sessions meant to garner feedback on the models, but parishioners can still share input through a survey that is open until July 31.
The archdiocese has been divided into 15 planning areas, or geographic areas, and three or four models are being proposed for each planning area, said the Rev. Mario Amore, executive director of parish renewal for the Archdiocese of Detroit.
The models have different proposed groupings of parishes ― called pastorates ― in which a grouping would share a pastor and potentially other priests. In some cases, selected churches in the grouping would no longer hold Saturday Vigil or Sunday Mass.
The models released on Thursday are for planning areas 6, 7, 8, 11, 14 and 15, which include parts of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties and parishes in St. Clair and Lapeer counties.
Sixteen of the parishes wouldn’t have weekend Mass under any of the models, including St. Alphonsus-Clement Parish in Dearborn, Our Lady of Loretto Parish in Redford Township and Our Lady of Hope Parish in St. Clair Shores.
The models are part of the archdiocese’s biggest restructuring plan in years. Announced last fall, Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said the archdiocese can’t maintain the roughly 200 existing parish buildings and is working to “right-size” the archdiocese, along with its personnel and financial resources.
Holly Fournier, a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Detroit, emphasized that the models are just draft proposals “intended to solicit feedback from parishioners.” She said no decisions have been made regarding pastorate groupings, weekend Mass schedules or any other aspect of the restructuring process.
The Rev. Mario Amore, executive director of parish renewal for the Archdiocese of Detroit, said in May that parishioners understand that the archdiocese “needs to do something” about its challenges. But when it becomes personal for people, it’s “very difficult,” he said.
“And there’s a lot of human emotions, and … we need to honor that,” Amore said. “We need to be attentive to that, and no one’s saying that it’s an easy process, and it’s not a process that … we’re happy that we need to undertake, but it is one that we do need to undertake.”
What the latest Wayne County models show
Planning Area 6, which is in the southern section of Wayne County, excluding the Downriver area, includes 16 parishes. Eight of them would stop holding Saturday Vigil or Sunday Mass under at least one of the models for the planning area.
They include St. Mary, Cause of Our Joy in Westland, St. Richard in Westland, St. Aloysius in Romulus, St. Sabina in Dearborn Heights, St. Linus in Dearborn Heights, Divine Child in Dearborn, St. Alphonsus -St. Clement in Dearborn and St. Kateri Tekakwitha in Dearborn.
Planning Area 7, which includes the northwest portion of Wayne County, has 15 parishes, four of which wouldn’t hold weekend Mass under at least one model. They include Our Lady of Loretto in Redford Township, St. John XXIII in Redford Township, St. Priscilla in Livonia and Resurrection in Canton Township.
What the latest Oakland and Macomb Co. models show
Planning Area 8, which is in southern Oakland County, has 13 parishes, six of which wouldn’t have weekend Mass under at least one of the models. They include St. William in Walled Lake, St. Gerald in Farmington, Prince of Peace in West Bloomfield, St. Joseph in South Lyon, Church of the Transfiguration in Southfield and Our Lady of Albanians in Southfield.
Planning Area 11, which includes the southeastern section of Macomb County, the Grosse Pointe communities and one parish in Detroit, has 14 parishes. Seven of them wouldn’t have weekend Mass under at least one model. They include Our Lady of Hope in St. Clair Shores, St. Lucy in St. Clair Shores, St. Basil the Great in Eastpointe, St. Margaret of Scotland in St. Clair Shores, Holy Innocents-St. Barnabas in Roseville, St. Matthew in Detroit and St. Clare of Montefalco in Grosse Pointe Park.
What the models in St. Clair, Lapeer counties show
Planning Area 14, which is in St. Clair County, has 12 parishes, five of which wouldn’t have Saturday Vigil or Sunday Mass in at least one model. They include Sacred Heart in Yale, St. Edward on the Lake in Lakeport, Holy Trinity in Port Huron, St. Christopher in Marysville and Immaculate Conception in Ira Township.
Planning Area 15, which is in Lapeer County and part of northern Macomb County, includes ten parishes. Two wouldn’t hold weekend Mass under at least one model. They include St. Mary Burnside in North Branch and St. Cornelius in Dryden.
asnabes@detroitnews.com
Carl’s Chop House, 3020 Grand River in Detroit, 1923-2008
It was one of the most prominent restaurants in Detroit throughout the 20th century. Carl’s Chop House served Detroit for decades, from the Great Depression through the new Millennium.
Founder Carl Rosenfield first opened as the Grand River Chophouse in the early 1920s and he moved the business across the street and renamed it Carl’s in the 1930s. The often-repeated story goes that he won the full ownership of a bar from his partner in a poker game and turned it into Carl’s Chop House.
Prior to his restaurant success, Rosenfield was a well-known tire merchant. At one point, Rosenfield also owned a lighthouse near Port Sanilac.
As a restaurateur, Rosenfield persevered through many trials, including the Great Depression and a beef shortage during World War II, which left the steakhouse to serve chicken, lobster, sturgeon and “a lot of fish I never heard of,” he was quoted as saying.
A sirloin steak dinner was $1 when Carl’s Chop House opened.
By the 1960s, business was booming, and the restaurant was serving thousands of customers daily and had plans to expand the 850-seat dining room to 1,200. By then, steak dinners were up to $6.
They bounced up to $10 in the 1970s when longtime Detroit News restaurant reporter and critic Molly Abraham included Carl’s in a column, pointing out that even though the restaurant was a bit out of fashion — it had been open for more than 50 years by then — she describes the place as having “an infectiously festive, informal atmosphere.”
Along with the steaks, convivial atmosphere and firm handshakes, Carl’s Chop House was known for always being open, even on Sundays. The only day of the year it was closed was Christmas Day, Dec. 25, which was also Rosenfield’s birthday.
Rosenfield, who would support local farmers by purchasing cattle and other livestock from the Michigan State Fair, was still working at the restaurant in the 1980s when he was in his 90s. He died in 1991 at age 95.
The new owners of Carl’s Chop House ushered it into the next century for another generation to enjoy.
It wasn’t the same without its namesake proprietor, who was known for an absolutely crushing handshake, however. In 2008, owner Frank Passalacqua filed an application with the state for a topless permit, hoping to turn the property, which was now a neighbor of MotorCity Casino, from a steakhouse to a strip club.
Passalacqua, who was more successful at Mario’s Italian restaurant in the Cass Corridor, said he was losing $1 million a year on Carl’s. The gentleman’s club idea never materialized. Carl’s closed in 2008 and the building was demolished in 2010.
mbaetens@detroitnews.com
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