The Detroit Lions are facing injury troubles on both offense and defense. Tight end Sam LaPorta remains sidelined with an ankle injury, and several players, including defensive end Marcus Davenport and right tackle Connor Galvin, are on IR.
Adding to the difficulties, the Lions have officially placed standout linebacker Derrick Barnes on IR. Barnes sustained a knee injury in Sunday’s victory over the Arizona Cardinals and will now miss at least the next four games.
Per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, “#Lions are officially placing starting LB Derrick Barnes on IR after he suffered a knee injury during Sunday’s game vs the #Cardinals. A key player on defense, this is a big loss for Dan Campbell.”
Barnes’ absence will significantly affect the Lions’ defense. As a starter and top linebacker, Barnes recorded 10 total tackles in 2024, with eight of them being solo efforts.
In 2023, Barnes became a playoff hero by intercepting a pass from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, securing the Lions’ win and propelling them to their first NFC Conference game since 1991.
Barnes has been with the Lions since 2021 after being drafted in the fourth round out of Purdue, where he played from 2017 to 2020. During his college career, he notched 225 total tackles, including 158 solo tackles, 10.5 sacks, and one interception.
Since joining the Lions, Barnes has been a defensive cornerstone, accumulating 205 tackles, four sacks, one interception, and four passes defended.
Barnes could return to the lineup in Week 8, when the Lions face their biggest rival, the Green Bay Packers. However, the severity of his knee injury could delay his return.
The Lions, currently 2-1, are still strong playoff contenders in the NFC. They are set to face the Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, and Minnesota Vikings over the next three weeks.
Each of these games will be challenging, and Barnes’ absence will weaken the defense. Still, head coach Dan Campbell will likely motivate the team as he has done in the past two seasons.
