CHICAGO — If this is it for Dan Skipper, he wouldn’t change a thing.

Skipper, who has spent the better part of his nine-year career with the Detroit Lions, is unsure of his future beyond Sunday’s victory over the Chicago Bears. Skipper, with tears in his eyes, told reporters in the locker room at Soldier Field that he’s dealing with issues related to his lower back “that might push me out.”

Asked if the decision regarding retirement will be his or instead left up to the doctors he plans to soon meet with, Skipper, 31, said “it’s a little bit of both.” The 6-foot-9 offensive tackle added: “You start getting some pretty intense surgeries — I’m old, tall. So, we’ll see what happens.”

A fan favorite as Detroit’s swing tackle and a key piece in the team’s jumbo package, Skipper has carved out a role for himself with the Lions. He was at the heart of a controversial ruling against the Dallas Cowboys two years ago, when officials ruled he reported eligible, making teammate Taylor Decker, who caught what first appeared to be the go-ahead 2-point attempt with less than 30 seconds remaining, an ineligible receiver.

Skipper’s standing as a folk hero has only grown since. Since that moment in Dallas, fans at Ford Field have cheered for Skipper every time he checks in and the referee announces he’s reported as an eligible receiver. Skipper and his teammates often have to wave their arms up and down, reminding the crowd to be quiet while quarterback Jared Goff is relaying play calls in the huddle.

“Finding a way to just stick around and stick in and finding a home and (having) guys that appreciate you, a place to take you in. It’s a special place,” Skipper said of his career, reflecting on his time in Detroit. “It’ll always hold a place in our heart. We had a kid born here. My boys know the damn fight song.”

Skipper said there were moments he wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to physically make it through this season, and that he owes his availability to Detroit’s medical team: “I’ve just never had a ‘quit’ bone in me. I don’t know, maybe that would’ve saved me at some point,” Skipper said. “You just find a way to play through it for the guys next to you, for your family, for everyone else. You just give it everything you’ve got each week.

“Some weeks are all right, and some weeks you can’t f—— move. It just felt like, as it went on, you start not being able to move and it’s frustrating and it’s hard. You’re like, man, stuff that you have been able to do for a long time, you can’t anymore. It sucks. But it’s just part of the aging process of being here and being hurt and everything else. I … owe a lot of it to the training staff.”

An undrafted free agent in 2017 who initially signed with the Cowboys out of Arkansas, Skipper began his first stint with the Lions in September 2017. He’d go on to make pit stops with various teams — the Denver Broncos (2018), New England Patriots (2018-19) and Houston Texans (2019) — before returning to the Lions for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Skipper was briefly with the Las Vegas Raiders (2021) and Indianapolis Colts (2023) over the next five years, but each of his 16 career starts (all since 2022) have come with Detroit, where he’s been since 2023.

The Lions (9-8) capped their season by walking off the Bears, as Jake Bates connected on a 42-yard field goal as time expired, with Skipper blocking on the play. Detroit missed the playoffs after beginning the season with Super Bowl aspirations, but Sunday’s result in Chicago secured the Lions their fourth consecutive campaign above .500, something that hadn’t been done in more than 50 years.

Skipper has 68 appearances in his career. All but three of those have come with the Lions.

“If this is it,” Skipper said, “no regrets.”

Who do the Detroit Lions play in 2026?

With the Minnesota Vikings beating the Green Bay Packers on Sunday — a result that means Detroit will finish last in the NFC North — we now know the full answer to that question.

The Lions are set to play nine games at home and eight on the road next season, though one of those home contests will likely be played overseas; Detroit has been told its going to play internationally, but the location and opponent has not been announced.

Six of the Lions’ 2026 games will come against NFC North rivals, of course. They’ll also play the NFC South and AFC East. Finishing last in the NFC North in 2025 secured the Lions a fourth-place schedule, meaning their remaining three opponents in 2026 are the Tennessee Titans, New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals. Had the Lions finished third, their remaining opponents would’ve been the Indianapolis Colts, Washington Commanders and one of the San Francisco 49ers or Los Angeles Rams.

Nine of Detroit’s upcoming 14 opponents in 2026 finished this season with a record under .500. For comparison, four of Detroit’s foes in 2025 finished 2024 with a record under .500.

Lions’ 2026 opponents

Home: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans

Away: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins

CHICAGO — Richard Silva grades the Detroit Lions in their 19-16 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

Quarterback

Jared Goff had a stellar first half, completing 19 of his 28 attempts for 205 yards and a touchdown. The Lions leaned on their passing attack early — only 10 of Detroit’s 39 plays in the first half were rushes — and Goff rose to the occasion, orchestrating drives of 35, 55, 71 and 76 yards before intermission, and the 35-yarder put the Lions in position to score at the end of the second quarter. Goff was not as prolific in the second half, and he made a critical mistake when he tried to shove a pass into tight coverage that was picked off by safety Kevin Byard. Grade: B

Running backs

It wasn’t a dominating outing for either Jahmyr Gibbs or David Montgomery, but the duo combined for an above-average rate of 4.5 yards per carry, and it tacked on 46 yards in the receiving game. Gibbs found the end zone on a Texas route, beating linebacker T.J. Edwards for a 15-yard touchdown. Montgomery was helpful on Detroit’s second possession of the third quarter, accounting for 32 yards on a drive that resulted in the Lions taking their largest lead. Grade: B-

Wide receivers/tight ends

This game, despite the absence of stakes, certainly seemed to mean something to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who finished with 139 yards on 11 catches. St. Brown benefitted from a large target share (35.7% of Goff’s attempts went in St. Brown’s direction), but he was also fairly explosive, notching seven receptions of 10 or more yards, including a 30-yarder to put Gibbs in position to score two plays later. Jameson Williams was solid with the ball in his hands (46 of his 74 yards came after the catch), and Kalif Raymond and Isaac TeSlaa chipped in a combined 70 yards. Grade: A

Offensive line

There were certainly negative moments — Goff’s first sack was due to subpar protection from Christian Mahogany and Chris Hubbard, and Graham Glasgow was beaten by defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. on the quarterback’s second — but the offensive line largely held up well, especially without Penei Sewell. Hubbard got the start in Sewell’s place at right tackle, and he was able to get out in space effectively on a couple outside runs, as well as on a screen pass to Williams that went for 12 yards. The unit was flagged once, and the call (a holding penalty on Tate Ratledge) was questionable. Grade: B-

Defensive line

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was only sacked once and wasn’t consistently moved off his spot, though the general lack of pressure didn’t sting the Lions until the fourth quarter. That was partly due to the opponent’s own issues — drops and misfires were issues for Chicago — but also because of Detroit’s run defense; running backs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai combined for 54 yards on 16 rushes. The Lions’ offense deserves a hat tip for limiting Swift and Monangai, as the visitors at Soldier Field dominated time of possession, recording a 10:30 advantage. Aidan Hutchinson, who was impactful as a run defender, extended his career-high sack total (14.5). Grade: B

Linebackers

Linebackers looked to be at fault on a couple notable plays, including Williams’ touchdown pass to tight end Colston Loveland that tied the score with fewer than six minutes remaining. The rookie got lost in coverage, and either Derrick Barnes or Malcolm Rodriguez didn’t pick him up. Barnes had a massive play earlier in the game (a fourth-down pass breakup against Loveland), but he was also run at on multiple occasions, and he struggled to hold the edge. The Lions put Rodriguez in a difficult position when they left him as the only defender in coverage over the middle of the field on a late third-and-long, but he was slow to react to Loveland, who crossed his face for the first down. Grade: D

Secondary

Avonte Maddox snatched his first interception in more than three years, boxing out receiver D.J. Moore on a deep ball launched to the opposite side of the field. That was before the fourth quarter, when Williams heated up and completed nine of his 13 throws for 123 yards and two touchdowns, as well as posting a couple of 2-point conversions. Chicago’s first touchdown was against zone coverage, so it’s difficult to discern who was directly at fault. Amik Roberston was the closest defender, but it appeared Maddox might have been out of position. Grade: B-

Special teams

Jake Bates made his first two field goals (from 30 and 34 yards) before missing a 53-yarder as time expired in the first half. He redeemed himself at the buzzer, connecting on a 42-yarder for the win. Raymond had a fine showing as a punt returner (an average of 11 yards on three tries), and punter Jack Fox averaged 46.5 yards on his two attempts. Grade: A

Coaching

How the Lions handled their second-to-last drive was baffling, and that’s being polite. Following an encroachment penalty on the Bears that gave the Lions a fresh set of downs, Detroit proceeded to pass the ball three consecutive times. On first down, an incompletion stopped the clock. On second down, Goff was flagged for intentional grounding. On third down, he tossed an interception. The Lions were running the ball well, and there was no reason to go away from it at that point. It didn’t end up mattering, but the sequence was quite questionable. Grade: C

ALLEN PARK — What a difference four months can make.

The Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears have trended in opposite directions since the former blew out the latter, 52-21, in a September matchup. The Lions (8-8) are 7-7 since that meeting, and they’ll miss the playoffs for the first time since 2022. The Bears (11-5) and first-year coach Ben Johnson, meanwhile, are 11-3, and they’ve already clinched the NFC North.

“I’m sure Ben wants to beat our ass,” Lions left tackle Taylor Decker said of his former offensive coordinator. “He would want to do that even if they won the first game; it’s just how he is. That’s probably why he’s going to have success, be a successful coach. That being said, we want to do everything we can to beat them. I’m happy for Ben’s success, I really am. But when we play, it doesn’t matter. We want to beat their ass, they want to beat at our ass. If there’s bad blood from the first one, that’s fine. That’s football, it is what it is.”

Johnson has led the Bears to their first division title since 2018. With a triumph over the Lions at Solider Field on Sunday, he’ll tie for the franchise’s second-most wins since 2006, when it won 13 games under former coach Lovie Smith before losing Super Bowl XLI to the Indianapolis Colts.

The Bears are a much different team since falling to the Lions in Week 2, adding or shuffling pieces throughout the season. C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who spent one season with Detroit in 2023, is a prime example. The defensive back signed with the Bears in October and has played at least 40 snaps in every game since. Gardner-Johnson has started six games for Chicago, notching three sacks and two interceptions to go along with 45 total tackles and four pass deflections.

But when taking a big-picture look at how the Bears have changed, they’re simply more refined in what they do, especially on the side of the ball in which Johnson specializes. Caleb Williams is on pace to set the franchise’s single-season record for passing yards, and running backs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai have formed a tandem that’s up there with any duo in the NFL.

Then there’s rookie Colston Loveland, who has 506 receiving yards since Week 9. That’s more than all but three tight ends, with Arizona’s Trey McBride (753), San Francisco’s George Kittle (531) and Atlanta’s Kyle Pitts (526) being the exceptions.

“Offensively, they’re more polished,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “Ben’s done a good job. The system is in and these little things that were there (as problems in) game two, game one, they’ve begun to go away. They’ve got a run game, they’ve found a run game. … Caleb’s playing really well, O-line’s playing really well. … Swift’s running well, (Monangai), he’s a downhill, hard runner, too. … They’re playing at a high level. They’re doing things well. Much more polished.”

Johnson isn’t running the same exact plays in Chicago that he did for three seasons in Detroit, though there are clear similarities. The Bears are extremely efficient in their rushing attack, which sets up play action. Williams has thrown 178 passes off a play-fake this season, second-most in the NFL. For comparison, Williams had 94 of those attempts (16th) as a rookie in 2024. Lions quarterback Jared Goff led the league in play-action passes last season. He’s fifth this year, with 149 tries.

But what makes Johnson special is his ability to build his offense around his personnel: “Ben’s a great coach,” Lions offensive coordinator John Morton said. “He sees what he has, and he plays to their strengths.”

Defensively, limiting mistakes has been an emphasis for the Lions in their preparation. That’s key against any team, but it’s particularly important versus the Bears, who lead the NFL with 32 total takeaways, including 22 interceptions and 10 recovered fumbles. Veteran safety Kevin Byard has a league-best six interceptions. Cornerback Nahshon Wright has five, and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds has four.

At home, the Bears are allowing 17.4 points per game. On the road, that average shoots up to 30.4.

“I think the biggest thing that we touched on, as a team, is turnovers come in bunches,” Decker said. “If the offense is giving them opportunities to get their hands on the ball, they’re making those plays. … They fly around, they play with energy. I would say the biggest thing (that’s changed since Week 2) is they play more nickel, and then they just gained confidence. You see it on film, they’re just more confident in the way they play.”

DETROIT — Two weeks ago, the Detroit Lions controlled their own destiny to the postseason.

After a loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15, they needed some help.

Now? Their playoff odds are all but dashed.

The Lions (8-7) were upset by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, a devastating result in a season that begin with Super Bowl aspirations. Technically, Detroit is still in the hunt. But it’ll need to win its next two games — at the Minnesota Vikings (Week 17) and Chicago Bears (Week 18) — and the Green Packers will have to drop their final two contests, at home versus the Baltimore Ravens (Week 17) and on the road at the Vikings (Week 18).

Numbers vary depending on the service you use, but The Athletic’s 2025 NFL Playoff Simulator gives the Lions a 6% chance to secure one of the NFC’s top seven seeds. That number rises to 24% if Detroit wins its next two outings. The Lions are mathematically eliminated from winning the division.

“I don’t know what all of this is or isn’t. I know we’ve got two left, and I just want to see us finish,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said of the Lions’ diminishing odds. “I just want to finish, (play) our style of football with two to go, man. Try to play four straight quarters of good football. Clean football. Efficient football. That’s what I want to do.”

The Lions haven’t won consecutive games since Weeks 4 and 5, when they topped the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, respectively. They were 4-1 after five weeks, but bounced back and forth between wins and losses since then before dropping their second straight on Sunday. It’s the first time in more than three years the Lions have lost two contests in a row within the same season.

In 2024, the only question about the Lions was whether they’d secure the conference’s No. 1 overall seed. In 2023, it was whether they’d win the division. This is territory the team hasn’t been in since 2022.

“We haven’t had that feeling,” quarterback Jared Goff said, when asked how it feels to be on the outside looking in and having to rely on other teams for help. “It’s creeping in on us now. We’ve got to find a way. I think it goes back to what Dan’s message was: Are we who we say we are type of thing? … Are we still going to be what we say we are and show up to work and do the whole thing on a short week?”

Asked to further explain Campbell’s message, Goff said the Lions are going to, “Find out who we are character-wise. Find out what we are made of. We know the percentages and whatnot. We know we are not eliminated, but we need some things to go our way. Find out who we are, see if we can win these last two, and see if we can get in.

“I know we will be dangerous if we can. That’s just the hard part.”

Takeaways from disastrous defensive effort that sinks Lions in 29-24 loss to Steelers

Photo gallery from Lions hosting the Steelers at Ford Field

Last-play TD nullified; loss to Steelers puts staggering Lions on thinnest ice for making playoffs

Lions grades: Must-win game against Steelers was lost in the trenches

DETROIT — Richard Silva grades the Detroit Lions in their 29-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

Quarterback

Jared Goff was clearly uncomfortable behind some shoddy protection, being pressured on more than 40% of his dropbacks. The QB didn’t throw an interception, but four times he put the ball in harm’s way, and four times he got away with it. Goff finished with 34 completions on 54 pass attempts for 364 yards and three touchdowns. He wasn’t a difference-maker, nor was he the chief problem in a loss that neutralizes almost any remaining hope for a playoff spot. Grade: C+

Running backs

The offensive line bears the brunt of the responsibility for Detroit’s poor rushing offense, but you still would’ve liked to see more from Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery; the duo combined for 16 yards on 11 carries, good for an average of 1.5 yards. Remove a 17-yard rush by Montgomery in the first quarter, and the Lions, as a team, managed minus-2 yards the rest of the way. The only noise from Gibbs came through the air, as he caught 10 passes for 66 yards, including one 13-yard gain in which he used a nifty spin move to shake linebacker Patrick Queen, and a 4-yard touchdown with about four minutes remaining to give the Lions a chance late. Grade: D

Wide receivers/tight ends

Amon-Ra St. Brown made two critical mistakes, dropping a potential explosive gain over the middle before committing offensive pass interference on the game’s final play, negating what would’ve been a miraculous touchdown off a lateral to Goff. Four plays before St. Brown’s infraction, rookie Isaac TeSlaa also committed OPI, though this one was less obvious. Jameson Williams (70 yards) did solid work to lead the Lions, and TeSlaa scored his fifth career touchdown, hauling in a catch between two defenders. Kalif Raymond got into the end zone, as well. Tight ends Anthony Firkser (40 yards) and Shane Zylstra (20) had mild contributions, but it was better than what the Lions were getting from the position previously. Grade: B-

Offensive line

Graham Glasgow’s absence was most felt on Detroit’s first possession of the second half, when Michael Niese, filling in for a briefly injured Kingsley Eguakun, sent a low snap to Goff, who was then sacked for a safety by Kyle Dugger. Goff was sacked three times, and Christian Mahogany, in his first game back from a broken bone in his left leg, appeared responsible for two of them. More troubling for the offensive line was its inability to block for Gibbs and Montgomery; through their first three drives, the Lions had only one successful rush. Unblocked defenders on the backside of the play were a consistent problem. Grade: F

Defensive line

Aidan Hutchinson had a multi-sack performance for the first time since Week 4, but the Lions were gashed on the ground by Pittsburgh’s rushing attack, allowing running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell to combine for 193 yards on 23 tries. Two 45-yard scores were the result of poor pursuit lanes at the second and third level of the defense, but Detroit’s front (mainly on the edge) could do little to slow the Steelers. Grade: F

Linebackers

On Pittsburgh’s first 45-yard rushing touchdown (both were by Warren), Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes were cleared out of the way, and Jack Campbell, despite his best efforts to avoid his block, couldn’t get an angle on the running back. Anzalone was in coverage against Kenneth Gainwell on a play right before halftime that resulted in an improbable touchdown; Gainwell fought through defensive pass interference to score with two seconds remaining in the second quarter, tying the game at 10. Campbell recovered a fumble and was credited with at least four stops, according to live tracking data from Pro Football Focus, as well as two pass deflections. Grade: F

Secondary

Credit to Thomas Harper for forcing a fumble on enormous tight end Darnell Washington, but he struggled as a run defender, missing a tackle and appearing to crash down too hard on at least one of Warren’s touchdowns. The Lions weren’t devastated with explosive passing plays like they have been in recent weeks (apart from D.K. Metcalf beating Rock Ya-Sin for 20 yards on first-and-long), but Rodgers dinked and dunked the Steelers down the field, and he was efficient when it mattered most. The Steelers went 8-for-16 on third down, and each of those conversions came via a pass. That’s despite Pittsburgh’s average distance on those third downs being more than 7.3 yards. The secondary simply didn’t hold up on money downs. Grade: D

Special teams

The Lions were relatively unimpressive in the return game, starting three drives inside their own 30-yard line following a kickoff return, including one possession that began at the 14-yard line. The Steelers weren’t prolific in their returns, either, so it balanced out. Raymond had one solid punt return (13 yards) and kicker Jake Bates made his only field goal, knocking through an attempt from 36 yards out. Grade: C+

Coaching

Dan Campbell won a challenge in the third quarter, overturning Harper’s forced fumble that was initially ruled down by contact. The playcalling on offense felt less than ideal and at times predictable (a couple screens on third long stick out), but much of that had to do with Detroit’s struggles along the offensive line. As left tackle Taylor Decker said: “It gets to the point where, if you’re not getting positive yards on first or second down, what do you want the coordinator to do? What do you want Dan to do, as far as calling plays?” Defensively, coordinator Kelvin Sheppard pushed back this week on the idea that his unit was beaten soundly on the ground in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15. There’s absolutely no doubting it this time around. The Steelers averaged 8.5 yards on 27 rushes. Grade: F

Takeaways from disastrous defensive effort that sinks Lions in 29-24 loss to Steelers

 

Last-play TD nullified; loss to Steelers puts staggering Lions on thinnest ice for making playoffs

 

Photo gallery from Lions hosting the Steelers at Ford Field

Can the Lions still make the playoffs after loss to Steelers?

ALLEN PARK — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell on Friday delivered some discouraging news regarding All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph.

Joseph (knee), who has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, was a limited participant at practice on Wednesday before being a non-participant the following day. Campbell said Joseph suffered a “setback.”

When asked if Joseph could be a candidate for injured reserve, Campbell said: “Could be. I mean, could be. We’re at the backend of the season now. Anything, even if it’s not technically long term, becomes long term because we don’t have many games left.”

“It bothers him,” Campbell said of Joseph’s knee. “That’s the best way to say it.”

Joseph hasn’t played since the Lions visited the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 12.

Despite both starting safeties dealing with significant injuries — Brian Branch recently had surgery to repair his Achilles — Campbell said he’s not worried about the position because, “I really do trust the guys that are going back there for us, I do, man. What you lose in a couple areas, you may gain in other areas having some of these guys back there.”

Does Campbell have any long-term concerns about the NFL’s best safety tandem?

“I can’t get to next year right now,” Campbell said. “I’m not even thinking about next year right now. My focus is, right now, L.A. and then beyond. Once we get through this one, then we’re onto the next one.”

More injury updates

S Thomas Harper (brain): Harper suffered a concussion in the first quarter of Detroit’s game against the Dallas Cowboys last Thursday. Campbell entered the week unsure if Harper could clear concussion protocol prior to the Rams game, but he was optimistic Friday.

“Harper will be out there at practice today, so feel pretty good about him. We’ll see,” Campbell said. “I can’t give you definitives right now, but that’s kind of where we’re at. Look, (Erick) Hallett’s been taking reps, (Daniel Thomas) has been taking reps, (Avonte) Maddox’s been taking reps. We’ve got plenty of guys, and they’re getting valuable reps. So, we’re good.”

OT Taylor Decker (shoulder): Decker missed his third consecutive practice Friday, as he continues to manage a nagging shoulder injury. He’s questionable for Sunday, as are Harper (concussion), offensive linemen Kayode Awosika (foot) and Christian Mahogany (fibula), running back Sione Vaki (thumb), wide receiver Kalif Raymond (ankle) and tight end Shane Zylstra (knee).

You don’t have to pinch yourselves, Detroit Lions fans, this is real: Frank Ragnow is coming out of retirement, a source confirmed to The Detroit News on Wednesday.

Ragnow, a multi-time All-Pro, first announced his retirement in June, citing health reasons. The former first-round pick and standout in the middle of Detroit’s vaunted offensive line has endured a number of injuries throughout his career, including a fractured throat and, as recently as the 2024 season, a partially torn pectoral muscle.

But those ailments were seemingly not enough to keep Ragnow away from the game for long. His reinsertion into the lineup gives new hope for the Lions’ offensive line, which, at best, has been up and down through the first three months of the 2025 season.

Quarterback Jared Goff has been sacked 23 times (12th-most in the NFL), and Detroit has rushed for fewer than 100 yards in each of its four losses. The Lions were held to under 75 rushing yards against the Green Bay Packers (Week 1), Minnesota Vikings (Week 9) and Philadelphia Eagles (Week 11).

Without Ragnow, the Lions turned to veteran Graham Glasgow, moving him from guard to center. At guard, the Lions initially leaned on second-year pro Christian Mahogany and rookie Tate Ratledge, but Mahogany broke a bone in his leg earlier this month and his since been replaced by Kayode Awosika. Mahogany could return in late December, Lions coach Dan Campbell has estimated.

To call Ragnow’s un-retirement a surprise would be an understatement. Asked on Nov. 4 about Ragnow, Lions coach Dan Campbell said the “ship has sailed” on him coming back: “Here’s what I know about Frank: If Frank really wanted to (play), he would be blowing my phone up, and I haven’t gotten a text yet,” Campbell said in an interview on 97.1 The Ticket’s “Costa & Jansen with Heather” show. “So, I think Frank is feeling good about his decision. Look, they just had another baby, so happy for them.”

“This is awesome for the Lions, can’t wait to watch Frank back out there doing his thing!” former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce said on social media.

Ragnow has appeared in and started 96 games in his career, with all but 16 of those games coming at center; he played left guard his rookie year. Ragnow is a four-time Pro Bowler and was a second-team All-Pro in 2020, 2023 and 2024. The Lions used the 20th overall pick in 2018 to draft Ragnow, who spent four seasons at Arkansas and was a two-time All-American.

As is standard when a player comes out of retirement, Ragnow’s preexisting contract will be in effect, according to ESPN. When he retired, he two years remaining on a four-year, $54 million extension signed in 2021.

This is a developing story that will be updated.

ALLEN PARK — Listen to Dan Campbell talk about Saquon Barkley, and you’ll hear the Detroit Lions head coach describing an oxymoron.

Barkley couples elite size (233 pounds) and strength at his position with rare talent and athleticism. The combination makes him one of the NFL’s best running backs, even if his production in 2025 isn’t quite as historic as it was in 2024, when Barkley ran for a league-best 2,005 yards, helping power the Eagles to their second Super Bowl win in eight years.

“He’s big, but he’s got the agility and the speed of a scat back,” Campbell said of Barkley this week. “He’s powerful, he’s strong, explosive. He can hit the hole. And if he’s got a step and there’s a hole, he can take it the distance. And so you can’t just stick an arm out and pull this guy down. That’s what it is. You’re talking about a power back that’s got very good feet, lateral quicks, and explosiveness and speed to go the distance. That’s what it is.”

Barkley has rushed for 579 yards and four touchdowns on 149 attempts this season, numbers that rank 16th, 17th and eighth, respectively, among all running backs. The Eagles and new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo haven’t quite found a way to unlock Barkley to his fullest potential, like last season. Barkley is averaging 3.9 yards per carry (31st) and has a rushing success rate of 42.3% (39th).

Perhaps the biggest difference in Barkley’s production is a downtrend in explosive plays. Barkley paced the NFL in designed rushing attempts of 15 or more yards last season (32), according to Pro Football Focus. He’s at seven this season, which currently is tied with Baltimore’s Derrick Henry and Chicago’s D’Andre Swift for 11th.

Those numbers, however, don’t change the Lions’ respect of Barkley. The running back flashed his explosive capabilities in the fourth quarter of a win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, when he caught a pass behind the line of scrimmage and spun away from cornerback Carrington Valentine on the way to picking up 41 yards. The play set the Eagles up to score their only touchdown of the game on their next snap.

“I think he is an explosive player, that every time his hands are on the ball, he’s a threat to score a touchdown,” outside linebackers coach David Corrao said. “You can’t give him a crease. He outruns angles. You see DBs come out of the secondary (and) they think they’ve got the angle on him, and he just runs by them. Then he runs you over. He’s physical, he’s fast, and he’s a complete back that, every time he touches the ball, you better find a way to get multiple guys there to get him on the ground.”

Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard called Barkley a “generational talent.”

“If you give 26 a lane, he’s going to find it, and he has home run ability,” Sheppard said. “He’s one of the most elite backs in this league.”

ALLEN PARK — Kelvin Sheppard had never heard Roy Lopez’s name before the Detroit Lions visited the Arizona Cardinals last season.

But the former linebackers coach and now first-year defensive coordinator quickly became aware of what Lopez, who signed with the Lions in March after spending two seasons with the Cardinals, was capable of. Former All-Pro center Frank Ragnow and offensive line coach Hank Fraley raved about the defensive tackle, with Ragnow saying, as Sheppard recalled, “That dude’s real, and that’s one of the best noses I’ve gone against this year.”

Lopez has developed a reputation as a stingy run defender, someone who makes his money doing the dirty work, taking on double teams and filling gaps. He’s continued that type of approach with the Lions this season, so far posting a grade against the run from Pro Football Focus (70.6) that ranks 11th among the 112 defensive linemen who’ve received at least 80 run-defense reps.

The Lions’ win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday may have featured Lopez’s best performance through the season’s first 10 weeks. He saw 12 defensive snaps, but he was a force, notching three runs stops (tackles that result in a failed play for the offense) and two pressures. Lopez has eight run stops on the season, leading all defensive linemen on the Lions. The only players on the roster with more are starting linebackers Jack Campbell (18), Alex Anzalone (13) and Derrick Barnes (11).

“He’s playing at a high level, man,” head coach Dan Campbell said of Lopez during his weekly interview with 97.1 The Ticket’s “Costa & Jansen with Heather” show. “It’s one of the reasons we wanted him here. He’s an outstanding role player for us. When he comes in, we don’t miss a beat, man. … He plays with leverage, he’s stout, he’s strong, he’s explosive. But then he can run the line of scrimmage, too, now, so you wanna run wide zone on him, he can get knock-back and run. That was evident the other day. … He plays hard, man. He plays snap to whistle.”

Campbell went on to say Monday that Lopez “showed up big time” against the Commanders, and they he’s been a “quietly productive guy for us the whole season.”

Similar sentiments were shared by Sheppard on Thursday: “You talk about a guy popping off the tape and making the most of your opportunities. That’s why I say, ‘Don’t sulk and feel sorry for yourself. No matter if you get five or 50 plays, what are you going to do with those?’ He got 12, and I felt him on all 12.”

Defending the run starts with proper technique, of course, from pad level to keeping your feet active. But Lopez tabbed want-to as a run defender’s most underrated quality. Sometimes, a defensive lineman’s duty on a rep (especially a nose tackle) isn’t to make the play, per se, but to change the ball-carrier’s path and redirect him toward a teammate. High-level run defenders have to be OK with not stuffing the stat sheet.

“You’ve got to take in pride in walking out of a game with one tackle, no tackles, and know that you did a great job that day. … I think that’s the biggest thing, too, is find the little joys in sending the ball back, cutting the play off, anchoring a double team, a fourth-down stop,” Lopez said. “Those little things, man … you’ve got to live on those. Everybody’s got their thing that they search for. … Don’t get me wrong, I want sacks and TFLs. But sometimes sending the ball back to your team, cutting off a play is your job on that play, so you’ve got to find love in the little things.”

Hearing compliments from his coaches this week was encouraging for Lopez, but what he really takes pride in is the respect he gained from his now-teammates after last year’s game in Arizona. When the Lions signed him, members of the offensive line first introduced themselves before letting him know how much of a pill he was to deal with.

“Those are always cool to hear, especially when you’re not this big name guy in the league and you feel like you’ve played enough ball,” Lopez said. “I wonder if people know my game. And then you go out there and someone’s like, ‘Hey, bro, you’re nice.’ (Then I think to myself), ‘OK, maybe I am.’”

Campbell and Sheppard certainly seem to think so.

By Richard Silva, The Detroit News

ALLEN PARK — In their professional careers, this is Round 4.

But in their lives, they’ve squared off countless times.

Within Sunday’s game between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings lies a matchup layered with history and competition: Amik Robertson vs. Justin Jefferson. The two are incredibly familiar with one another, having grown up attending rival high schools in Louisiana. Robertson went to Thibodaux. Jefferson went to Destrehan. They battled at college camps throughout their recruitments before Robertson committed to Louisiana Tech. Jefferson ended up at LSU, where he spent three seasons and won a national championship in 2019.

“It’s always a great opportunity to go against the best,” Robertson said of Jefferson. “(We) all have a great respect for him. He’s a dog, but I’m a dog, too.”

Robertson had a standout performance while shadowing Jefferson in Week 18 last season, helping limit the receiver to 54 yards on three catches, way below his career average of 95.6 yards per game, which is currently the highest for any player in NFL history. The Lions, who beat Minnesota at Ford Field to secure their second consecutive NFC North title, benefitted from a handful of errant throws from former Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold. Still, Robertson was attached to Jefferson’s hip throughout, barking out some smack.

“A lot, but I’ve always been a confident guy,” Robertson said, when asked how much confidence he drew from that January outing. “Of course, it gave me a lot of confidence, just to show the world that I can play this game. That was new to the world, old to me.”

In their three previous meetings, Jefferson has caught 12 of his 20 targets for 162 yards and a touchdown, though he left their first duel with a chest injury in 2023 (when Robertson was still on the Las Vegas Raiders) after playing only 13 snaps. Jefferson beat Robertson for a 25-yard touchdown in Minnesota last season.

“I love his competitive spirit,” Jefferson said this week of Robertson. “I love the way he approaches the game, his energy, his trash talk. That’s all something that I’m used to, with knowing him and playing against him. I just love that type of energy and love that type of competition.”

Although Sunday’s game has less stakes than last year’s Week 18 bout, Robertson intends to approach it with the “same smoke.” His competitive edge doesn’t come from playing in big-time moments. That helps, naturally. But, as he put it, “any time you get to step foot on that grass and face an opponent, you’ve got to come with the same smoke, man. You can’t get too high because that’s when you get knocked off.”

Respect between Robertson and Jefferson is high. Robertson called Jefferson an “All-World talent,” and Jefferson said Robertson has “always been a baller.” That esteem, however, won’t diminish any of the competitive juices Sunday, when Robertson hopes to move to 3-0 against Jefferson in a Lions uniform.

“It’s definitely weird going up against him for this long period of time,” Jefferson said. “I’m pretty sure he’s the only one — especially through high school, college and now into the league — that I’ve went up against my whole entire career. It’s been a fun matchup.”

ALLEN PARK— The Detroit Lions have swung a deadline trade in three straight seasons, acquiring pass rusher Za’Darius Smith and receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones in 2024 and 2023, respectively, and sending tight end T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings in 2022.

Will general manager Brad Holmes make it four in a row in 2025? Head coach Dan Campbell didn’t totally rule out the possibility Friday, but he cast some doubt on the idea of making a move.

“Look, I don’t,” Campbell said, when asked if he expects the Lions to be active before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline. “But that doesn’t mean we won’t. (Holmes has) brought up a couple of things already, but there again, I’m so focused on the here and now and the roster we have in place, getting these guys ready to go.”

There aren’t many holes for the Lions to fill. They could target a cornerback, given the position’s attrition, but Terrion Arnold is expected to return against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, and veteran D.J. Reed (hamstring) figures to be back at some point. Plus, Detroit’s depth on the outside — notably, Rock Ya-Sin and Nick Whiteside — has stepped up mightily in recent weeks.

How about a pass rusher? The Lions are down Marcus Davenport (chest), but Campbell believes he’ll come off injured reserve this season, and Al-Quadin Muhammad has proven to be a viable option opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Muhammad has 27 pressures and five sacks through seven games, including a career-best nine pressures in a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 20.

“I love where we’re at,” Campbell said. “I think the roster is healthy, I think it’s in a good position, I think we have depth. But like I said, (Holmes is) always looking to improve the roster. That’s one of his jobs, and he does a hell of a job at it.”

Campbell wouldn’t share how many potential trade targets Holmes has approached him with, but he described the two as having “open communication.” Holmes, assistant general manager Ray Agnew and the front office do their work, studying those around the NFL who could potentially be had. If enough boxes are checked, Campbell gets looped in.

“If there’s somebody he knows that he feels good about, and that I would, then he’ll bring it,” Campbell said of Holmes. “Otherwise, he doesn’t bog me down with any of that. Listen, the amount of time spent and players that are looked at between he and Ray and that staff, you’d be shocked the hours that goes in. They’re doing the legwork. If there’s somebody that he thinks is intriguing, he thinks the price could be right, it’s somebody, maybe, he fits us, it could be a need, then it comes to me. Like, ‘Hey, let’s check this out.’

“But otherwise, he just kind of stays away from that. Which is all good, man.”

Happy Halloween

The Lions recently had their team Halloween party, and we saw some creative costumes come to life. Quarterback Jared Goff was the chef from Pixar’s “Ratatouille.” Rookie receiver Dominic Lovett was the Joker. Offensive lineman Christian Mahogany was Shrek.

But none of those getups have anything on what Campbell wore many years ago, when his wife, Holly, purchased him an outfit so that he could pretend to be Marilyn Monroe. Campbell recalled the costume Friday, tabbing Holly as “the creative one” in their relationship.

“I actually had broken an ankle, so I was on crutches, too,” Campbell said. “So, that was great.”

Told he’s a good sport, Campbell replied: “Yeah, I guess so. Alcohol helps.”

The Campbell residence plans to hand out Reese’s and M&Ms to Friday’s trick-or-treaters. “That’s usually kind of been the staples. That’s where we go,” Campbell said. “It’s not the caramel apples or anything.”

ALLEN PARK — Aidan Hutchinson hasn’t thought much about how he’s going to handle the life-changing money he’s set to receive, but he does know one purchase he’s on the hook for after landing a record-breaking contract extension from the Detroit Lions on Wednesday.

“I think the D-line, they are expecting a Christmas present this year,” Hutchinson said Thursday. “So, I will have to deliver on that. I’ve already got some stuff in the works that I’ve been thinking about.”

Hutchinson’s new pact with the Lions, which tacks four years and $180 million onto his already-existing rookie deal, is scheduled to keep him in Detroit through the 2030 season. It includes $141 million in guarantees, the most ever for a non-quarterback in NFL history.

“It sounds kinda cool,” Hutchinson, 25, said of the record. “But if I ask myself why I play this game and why I do what I do, the money is really a byproduct. So, while a lot of those numbers are fun to look at — and it’s cool and it’s such a blessing — in order to for me to keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep looking forward, I focus on my play and my evolution as a player. Because, to me, when I see that, that fires me up more than money ever would.”

Hutchinson did his best to stay away from negotiations, leaving most of the responsibilities to both his agent and parents.

“These things can get a little bit hairy the more you get into it and the longer it goes, as you see with other guys around the league,” Hutchinson said. “Obviously, you want to avoid those situations, and we were able to get it done and move on from it. Just super grateful and just ready to focus everything on this season and … on what’s important.”

The Lions have signed seven of general manager Brad Holmes’ draft picks to multi-year extensions, as Hutchinson joins a group already including offensive tackle Penei Sewell, defensive tackle Alim McNeill, receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, linebacker Derrick Barnes and safety Kerby Joseph.

Those seven extensions, plus deals with quarterback Jared Goff and running back David Montgomery, total more than $968 million. The Lions have invested in their core group of players — more commitments are likely on the horizon, with running back Jahmyr Gibbs, linebacker Jack Campbell, tight end Sam LaPorta and safety Brian Branch all becoming extension eligible next March — and they’re in line to remain together for the foreseeable future.

“Everybody knows we’ve got the pieces,” Hutchinson said. “We’ve just got to go out there and do it, you know? We know we have the talent and we have the coaches to do it, the culture. Everything is set and in place. Last year was what it was. But this year, that will always be the goal with this group.”

Hutchinson has shown no signs of dropping off since returning from the broken leg he suffered last October. He was a force in training camp and has extended that play into the regular season; he leads the NFL in pressures (48) and paces the Lions in sacks, with six. His win rate (25.2%) ranks third among all players in the league who’ve had at least 100 snaps as a pass rusher, behind Houston’s Will Anderson Jr. (29%) and Cleveland’s Myles Garrett (26.9%).

“That’s where, in those moments of the unknowing, you just have to rely on God’s plan and God’s journey for you,” Hutchinson said of his injury, which occurred just over a year ago. “Because, ultimately, I wasn’t expecting to get hurt last year, and it happened. Although it served as a bump in the road in my eyes, it’s set me up this year for an incredible comeback. … Looking back now, a year later from when it happened, I feel like I’m in a great spot.”

Hutchinson received congratulatory messages from a number of personalities in the NFL, including some of the best pass rushers who’ve come before him, in Michael Strahan and J.J. Watt. One person who did not reach out, however, was Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Hutchinson’s former teammate at Michigan who he’ll be trying to sack Sunday.

“I did not get a text from any Minnesota Vikings,” Hutchinson said, smiling. “No, I did not.”

The Detroit Lions on Tuesday became the fourth and final team in the NFC North to enter its bye week, getting some time off later in the calendar than the Green Bay Packers (Week 5), Chicago Bears (Week 5) and Minnesota Vikings (Week 6).

An idle date in Week 8 doesn’t split the season in half — Detroit (5-2) has 10 games to go, plus whatever is to come in a potential postseason run — but it serves as a well-deserved break for the Lions, who rank third in points scored per game (30.7) and 12th in points allowed (21.6) this season.

With four NFC North contests still to come, including one apiece against the Packers and Bears, we’ll break down the resume of each of Detroit’s divisional foes, as well as why Lions fans should (and shouldn’t) be hopeful for their upcoming matchups.

Green Bay Packers

Record: 4-1-1

Winning percentage of remaining opponents: .563 (seventh highest)

Remaining game vs. Lions: Week 13

The skinny: The Packers opened their season with a statement win over the Lions, stifling Detroit’s offense before doing the same to the Washington Commanders in Week 2. There were consecutive hiccups in the two following weeks — the Cleveland Browns pulled off an unlikely upset, and the Dallas Cowboys played Green Bay to a tie — but the Packers are winners of two straight, and, based on winning percentage, currently lead the NFC North.

Reason for optimism: Dan Campbell’s Lions haven’t been swept by an in-division opponent since the Bears did it in 2021. Week 1’s result against the Packers was worrisome, especially when a number of Detroit’s perceived flaws (fresh coordinators, new-look offensive line) were evident. But those issues have largely dissipated in the weeks since, and the Packers, particularly on defense, don’t look to be the juggernaut they appeared early on.

Reason to be worried: Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is proficient at limiting explosive plays. Green Bay’s pass defense allows 5.0 yards per play (third-lowest, behind the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons), and its run defense holds opponents to -0.13 Expected Points Added (EPA) per play, the fifth-best mark in the NFL. Communication issues were a problem for the Lions’ offensive line in Week 1. That can’t happen again against a defensive front — Micah Parsons, Rashan Gary, Devonte Wyatt and Colby Wooden — as talented as the Packers’.

Chicago Bears

Record: 4-2

Winning percentage of remaining opponents: .534 (13th)

Remaining game vs. Lions: Week 18

The skinny: The Bears, in Ben Johnson’s first year as head coach, are undefeated since getting blown out by the Lions in Week 2. They’ve beat up on a couple inferior opponents (the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4 and New Orleans Saints in Week 7), but have solid wins against the Cowboys in Week 3 and Commanders in Week 6. Impressive about Chicago’s victory over Dallas: The Bears held the Cowboys’ high-powered offense to 14 points, its fewest this season.

Reason for optimism: If there’s one thing the Lions are going to sell out to do defensively, it’s stop the run. That matches up well with the Bears, who are a run-first team — they’ve run the ball on 46.8% of their offensive snaps, the fifth-highest rate in the league. If the Lions can slow the Bears on the ground or jump out to an early lead and force Chicago to play catch-up, it’s a firm advantage for Detroit.

Reason to be worried: One would naturally think Chicago’s recent success is due to the offense, given Johnson’s history. But the Bears are rolling defensively, particularly on the back end. Tyrique Stevenson’s overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus since Week 3 (91.7) ranks second among qualified cornerbacks, and Kevin Byard’s mark over that stretch (89.9) is second among safeties. The Bears have forced 15 turnovers over their last four games, including 10 interceptions. Four of those INTs have been courtesy of Byard.

Minnesota Vikings

Record: 3-4

Winning percentage of remaining opponents: .568 (5th)

Remaining games vs. Lions: Weeks 9, 17

The skinny: The Vikings fell to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, picking up their third loss in their last four tries. Things looked promising early in the season as backup quarterback Carson Wentz led a 48-10 clobbering of the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3, but Minnesota is 1-3 since, with losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 4), Philadelphia Eagles (Week 7) and Chargers (Week 8). The lone win came against the Cleveland Browns (Week 5).

Reason for optimism: If second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy returns from injury in Week 9, Detroit’s defense could feast on an inexperienced QB who has struggled in seven of his eight quarters of professional football; outside of a 21-point final frame against the Bears in Week 1, the Vikings have scored just 12 points on 19 total possessions with McCarthy at QB. Even if the Vikings keep McCarthy on the bench in Week 9, Wentz (110-of-169 for 1,216 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions this season) has hardly been a world-beater.

Reason to be worried: Minnesota’s pass defense is once again strong this season, ranking fourth in EPA per pass attempt (-0.17). Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers has proven to be a helpful offseason addition, and defensive end Jonathan Greenard (30 pressures) continues to show his value as a pass rusher. The Vikings’ excellence against the pass should come as no surprise, as coordinator Brian Flores has been doing this for years. In fairness to the Lions, though, we’ve seen them handle a Flores-led defense before; quarterback Jared Goff has a passer rating of 110.5 in his last four meetings with Flores.

ALLEN PARK — If you’re familiar with Alim McNeill’s temperament, his answer shouldn’t surprise you.

Athletes and coaches speak often about the value of remaining even-keel. Never getting too high, never getting too low. Refusing to ride the inevitable emotional roller coaster that comes during a five-to-six-month NFL season. It’s easier said than done.

But McNeill, in his fifth year with the Detroit Lions, lives that mantra.

“He’s always very steady, which I appreciate about him,” teammate Aidan Hutchinson said.

McNeill is set to make his season debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night, about 10 months removed from the torn ACL he suffered last December. For some, a return like this draws emotion, maybe even some tears of gratitude during pregame warmups or the national anthem. McNeill, however, doesn’t see himself responding that way, and it’s not because he doesn’t appreciate the moment.

“I don’t take things for granted at all; it’s for sure going to be a huge moment. But just knowing me, it’s just going to be game day for me,” said McNeill, as nonchalant as he is talented. “I’m not going to sit here and try to make a big deal out of it and all this and that. Because people get hurt and come back all the time. So, it’s like, why would I make a big deal out of it? Let’s just go play football.”

McNeill’s return is massive for the Lions. He’s a disruptive run defender next to fellow defensive tackle DJ Reader, but perhaps more important is his ability to rush the passer from an interior alignment. The Lions have missed that this season, with not only McNeill being unavailable, but also Levi Onwuzurike, who had a season-ending knee procedure before training camp.

Before getting hurt against the Buffalo Bills in Week 15 last season, McNeill posted 45 pressures, tied for the eighth-most among all defensive tackles through Weeks 1-15. He also had seven tackles for loss and 3½ sacks. His presence on the defensive line should, at least in theory, open up even more opportunities for Hutchinson, who, entering Week 7, leads the NFL in pressures (36) and strip-sacks (three), and is fourth in sacks (six).

“It’ll be super fun,” McNeill said of playing alongside Hutchinson again. “We were already out there (at practice) trying to get that chemistry back going. It’s a couple things that we were doing out there, little head nods, little small stuff like that we were trying to get going. It’s going to be fun. That’s an electric player to be beside. He elevates everybody around him.”

Excitement around McNeill’s return isn’t limited to members of the defensive line. Linebackers coach Shaun Dion Hamilton is well aware what McNeill can do for his unit, eating up space, closing gaps and opening avenues for the team’s linebackers to come down and get run stops.

The Lions already had a handful of strong run defenders at defensive tackle, in Reader, rookie Tyleik Williams and veteran Roy Lopez. Adding a fourth stout piece to the rotation should only make everyone’s responsibilities more manageable.

“Very ecstatic, as a coach, to have that guy back,” Hamilton said. “Some of the things that he can do at 300-plus pounds, you’re not supposed to be able to do. He’s going to, for sure, help affect the quarterback, play the run. It’s so many things that guy can do. Just glad that he’s on our team and not another team.”

How many snaps McNeill plays against the Bucs remains to be seen, but he’s expecting to perform at the same level he was at before getting injured. He attacked his rehabilitation too hard to think anything different: “That’s the work that I’ve been putting in, to be the same exact way, if not better.”

Ten months of work and recovery will culminate for McNeill on Monday. Don’t expect to see watery eyes when the camera pans toward him. But rest assured, McNeill, one of Detroit’s defensive cornerstones, couldn’t be happier.

“It’s the only thing I’ve been looking forward to,” McNeill said of his upcoming return. “I don’t even know how to (properly) explain that to you. I’ve been waiting on this day for a long, long time.”

ALLEN PARK — Jared Goff has been strong against the blitz since joining the Detroit Lions, but the quarterback has taken things to another level this season, so far turning in an NFL-best passer rating (137.1) on the 51 dropbacks in which the defense has sent at least one extra rusher.

That excellence will be tested Monday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have a blitz rate (32.6%) that ranks third in the NFL, behind the Atlanta Falcons (39.9%) and Minnesota Vikings (35.8%). Offensive coordinator John Morton called Tampa Bay’s defensive strategy, which kept him up late preparing Saturday evening, “a blitz fest.”

“If he sees something (at the line of scrimmage), we get to our blitz check. He can see everything,” Morton said of Goff’s proficiency against the blitz. “He’s a veteran guy, and he studies, man. This guy works his butt off. … He’s like a coach. It makes it so much easier (to operate the offense).”

Goff has completed 36 of 49 passes (73.5%) for 468 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions on the plays he’s been blitzed, according to Pro Football Focus. Much of that success is due to Goff’s continued growth, of course. But some of it can be ascribed to the defensive looks Goff faced in training camp.

“I know it’s helped him,” defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said. “Because not only him, but Johnny Mo tells me. He’s like, ‘Coming out of training camp with you guys, they feel like they’re prepared for anything.’ That’s a credit to not only myself, but my staff. … There’s a lot of hands in the jar on this thing, and we present a lot of different defenses week to week. That takes a staff, not just one person.”

Sheppard and Goff have met often throughout the season, “whether that’s (for) two minutes or 20 minutes.” The parties do their best to inform the other of what they’re seeing from one another’s units during practice, handing nuggets of information back and forth in preparation for game day.

Goff, through six games, currently has career-high marks in completion rate (75.9%), success rate (56.3%), passer rating (120.6) and quarterback rating (72.4). His completion rate leads the NFL, more than 2.5% better than the next closest quarterback — New England’s Drake Maye (73.2%).

In his first year as defensive coordinator, Sheppard joked Goff never visited this much previously: “I said (to Goff), ‘I guess when I was a linebackers coach, I was a nobody because you never came in my office.’ Now, he’s in my office every week.”

“I think real guys respect other real guys,” Sheppard said of his relationship with Goff. “Like at the end of the day, you watch … how people work and you respect it in this game. … Real guys respect real guys. We have mutual respect for each other, and I think we want to see each other benefit and win. Because both of us will be mutual beneficiaries off of that.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s been nearly three years since the Detroit Lions lost consecutive regular-season games, a testament to the resiliency and mental fortitude head coach Dan Campbell has hammered into a roster that’s 39-11 over its last 50 contests.

That streak will soon be put to the test.

The Lions, following a 30-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, are hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for “Monday Night Football” in Week 7. The Buccaneers, sitting atop the NFC after six weeks, are winners of two straight. They own a 5-1 record, tied with the Indianapolis Colts for the NFL’s best.

If you believe what the Lions say, and if you believe in what they’ve accomplished over the last 36 months, don’t expect Sunday’s result at Arrowhead Stadium to linger into next week’s matchup with the Bucs.

“I mean, we’re men. We’re going to show up to work, we’re going to collect the film and we’re going to get back to work,” defensive tackle DJ Reader said. “I don’t think anybody on this team’s going to hang their head. I mean, s—, we’re 4-2. The sky’s not falling out of the air. … You’re 4-2, you’re still at the top of your conference. You just lost a game to a good team.”

Reader described Detroit’s loss to Kansas City as “frustrating,” and he rejected a notion that the Lions weren’t as focused as they typically are.

“We just got beat today, that’s just what it came down to. We didn’t respond well to all the adversity that was out there,” Reader said.

The Lions struggled in the biggest moments Sunday. The Chiefs converted two of their three fourth-down attempts. The Lions, meanwhile, went 0-for-2, including an atypical drop from receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown on fourth-and-short. Had the Lions converted, they could’ve built their lead going into halftime. Instead, the Chiefs took advantage by scoring a go-ahead touchdown before the break.

One of Kansas City’s fourth-down conversions was a 6-yard touchdown catch from Xavier Worthy, who beat cornerback Amik Robertson to the flat. Robertson tried to jam Worthy at the line of scrimmage, but the receiver evaded the contact, causing Robertson to lose his balance.

“At the end of the day, man, we’re not about to hold our heads down,” Robertson said. “We’re what, 4-2? It’ll be all right, man. Twenty-four-hour rule, get back to the drawing board. Like I always say, next game is the most important.”

St. Brown said bouncing back quickly from a loss is “mandatory” for the Lions, who hope they can respond in Week 7 like they did in Week 2, when they clobbered the Chicago Bears at home after opening the season with a troubling loss at the Green Bay Packers.

“We will watch the film and we will clean this stuff up. We’re going to have to,” Campbell said. “Tampa Bay is coming in and they’re a good football team. We’re going to have to be ready. … These only get harder and harder as you go. They are more meaningful every game that we go. I go back to this: Maybe we needed this.

“Maybe we needed to get kicked around a little bit, because that’s what happened.”

By Richard Silva, The Detroit News

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Richard Silva grades the Detroit Lions in their 30-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on “Sunday Night Football.”

Quarterback

Conventional wisdom says to ascribe blame to a quarterback when his offense musters only 17 points. But Jared Goff was his usual self, completing 79.3% of his throws for 203 yards and two touchdowns, and he protected the ball throughout. Two of his six incompletions were drops (we’ll get to one of those momentarily). Goff also made some difference-making throws, finding tight end Sam LaPorta over the middle for 26 yards four plays before he did the same to receiver Jameson Williams, hitting the speedster for a 22-yard touchdown. The pocket was closing in on both plays. It didn’t matter for Goff, who stayed patient and hung onto the ball long enough for his pass-catchers to come open. Goff didn’t produce off-script moments like Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, but he was far from the issue Sunday night. Grade: B

Running backs

There appeared to be some success for Jahmyr Gibbs early on — five of his first seven rushes went for four or more yards, and he had a 3-yarder to move the chains on third-and-short — but his final tally as a runner (65 yards on 17 carries) wasn’t as prolific as you’d hope, given the hot start. David Montgomery was curiously only given four carries and six total touches, a development we’ll discuss further in the coaching section. Montgomery chipped in most of his yards through the air, catching two passes for 37 yards. He was pivotal in getting the Lions down the field and into the end zone on their third-to-last drive, when the game was still within reach. Grade: B-

Wide receivers/tight ends

It feels unfair to criticize Amon-Ra St. Brown too heavily for his uncharacteristic drop in the second quarter, but it’s difficult to ignore the play’s magnitude. The Lions were driving and had a chance to extend their lead going into halftime, but St. Brown couldn’t corral a slightly low pass on fourth down, allowing the Chiefs to take over possession near midfield and later score, taking a lead they’d never give back. It’s worth mentioning Williams, who got back on track with his first touchdown since Week 2 (he was Detroit’s leading receiver, with 66 yards), and LaPorta, who snagged a wildly impressive touchdown early in the fourth quarter. The grade here is going to take a slight hit due to shoddy screen-pass blocking that killed the Lions’ first drive of the second half. Grade: B

Offensive line

The offensive line did an impressive job protecting Goff from Kansas City’s pass rush, especially defensive tackle Chris Jones and edge defender George Karlaftis; Goff was sacked once (by Charles Omenihu), but it came late, and in an obvious passing situation. The O-line was not as successful paving running lanes for Gibbs, who averaged a modest 3.8 yards per carry. That’s a passable average, but well below expectations for Gibbs, who had a 4.6 average heading into Sunday. It was especially disappointing versus a Chiefs defense that had been struggling against the run. From Weeks 1-5, Kansas City allowed 4.8 yards per rush on the season, the sixth-worst average in the NFL. Grade: C+

Defensive line

Rookie left tackle Josh Simmons was a late scratch for the Chiefs, and yet Kansas City’s offensive line kept Detroit’s pass rush mostly in check. Aidan Hutchinson pulled his weight by recording a sack in his fifth straight game — setting a new franchise record, by the way — when he stripped Mahomes in the second quarter, but he let Mahomes out of his grasp on a play in the first half, leading to a 20-yard gain for Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, and he had a costly roughing the passer infraction in the fourth quarter. Al-Quadin Muhammad was the only other defensive lineman to sack Mahomes and it came with less than three minutes remaining. Grade: C+

Linebackers

Run defense falls within the defensive line’s scope, of course, but linebackers also are part of the equation. The Lions weren’t horrendous in slowing Isiah Pacheco, but they allowed the running back to post a season-high 51 rushing yards on 12 attempts. Considering the opponent (Mahomes is Kansas City’s leading rusher on the season), the Lions fell below their elite standards. Also of note: Jack Campbell missed at least two tackles, per Pro Football Focus’ live tracking data. He had two missed tackles total entering Sunday. Grade: C

Secondary

The Lions are down starters D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold, and their absences were clearly felt against the Chiefs. Mahomes finished 22-for-30 for 257 yards and three touchdowns. His most popular target was Travis Kelce, who snagged six passes, including a third-down conversion while working against practice-squad call-up Arthur Maulet. Kelce also drew an impactful pass interference call against Rock Ya-Sin, putting the Chiefs in the red zone before his 17-yard catch placed them at the 1-yard line. Xavier Worthy scored because Amik Robertson missed his jam at the line of scrimmage, and Brown’s second TD was the result of miscommunication on the back end. Shout-out to defensive back Thomas Harper for having a pass breakup on fourth down. Grade: D+

Special teams

Punter Jack Fox did a solid job — Kansas City was forced to start drives on its own 7- and 11-yard lines due to a pair of Fox’s boots — but the Lions lost some of their advantage in the field-position battle when returning kickoffs. The Chiefs kicked the ball off to Craig Reynolds five times. He averaged 23.6 yards per return, a rate not good enough when the touchback comes out to the 35-yard line. Whether the fault is on the blocking or poor running from Reynolds, the Lions would benefit from being more explosive. Jake Bates was true on his one field goal attempt, which came from 28 yards out. Grade: C+

Coaching

Some of the offensive play-calling and personnel usage was curious. Namely, Montgomery’s lack of opportunity and back-to-back screen passes early in the second half. Neither play worked because there were missed blocks, but the calls were uninspiring, and perhaps telegraphed on second- and third-and-long. Defensively, Kansas City’s quick passing game was devastating, as nearly 70% of Mahomes’ passing yards came after the catch. The Lions never seemed to adjust. And if they did, it was ineffective. Grade: C

ALLEN PARK — John Morton is in lockstep with his head coach: The Detroit Lions aren’t panicking.

The offensive output in Sunday’s season-opening loss at the Green Bay Packers fell well below expectations. But Morton, in his first year as offensive coordinator, insisted Thursday his unit’s issues are fixable, and he’s assured the overarching problems present at Lambeau Field will be taken care of by the time the Chicago Bears visit Ford Field for Week 2.

“We have great players,” Morton said. “That’s why I’m confident.”

Particularly, the run game must improve. The Lions averaged a measly 2.1 yards per carry against the Packers, their worst since October 2023, when they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a game Jahmyr Gibbs missed with a hamstring injury. Gibbs and David Montgomery have never been less productive in a game both participated in than they were against the Packers.

Much of Detroit’s struggles can be connected to miscommunication. On a number of plays, at least one member of the offensive line was not mentally in line with his teammates. Sometimes, it was multiple players at fault. And it wasn’t just a youth issue. Rookie right guard Tate Ratledge and left guard Christian Mahogany, playing in the first and third career games, respectively, had their fair share of concerns. But so did some of the veterans, according to Morton.

Take the near safety at the start of the fourth quarter as an example. Ratledge allowed defensive tackle Colby Wooden to come through unblocked, drawing the ire of those who watched the replay. Left tackle Taylor Decker revealed Wednesday he was also incorrect on that rep, as he ran the same play Ratledge did. Mahogany, center Graham Glasgow and right tackle Penei Sewell were on a different page.

Those are the type of correctable mistakes Morton identified on tape.

“It’s addressed,” Morton said. “It’s going to be fixed.”

Asked why he’s confident in the run game improving, Morton said, “Because we’re doing plays that they’ve done. Now, there’s some young guys, right? We’ve just got to make sure we give them the right looks, all the different type of right looks, and to make sure they know exactly what they’re doing. And that’s what we’ve done.”

Head coach Dan Campbell said Monday there may have been too much put on the players’ plates too early, and dialing things back some against the Bears could be beneficial. It’s about getting back to the fundamentals. The meat and potatoes, if you will.

“We did an extra period in the runs this week, and I think it’s going to help,” Morton said. “I think that’s what you’ve got to do. It’s an easy fix. Again, we’re not in panic mode. But 2.1 (yards per carry), that ain’t gonna cut it. It should never happen.”

Chicago’s defense doesn’t posses the talent of Green Bay’s, especially so if some starters who missed Week 1 (cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, and linebacker T.J. Edwards) aren’t available. Johnson (calf/groin) returned to practice Wednesday. Edwards (hamstring) was limited and Gordon (hamstring) did not practice.

Morton and Campbell are also familiar with the scheme, having worked with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen in New Orleans. It’s similar to what the Lions run defensively, with an emphasis on man coverage. That’s different than the Packers, who often play zone and drop seven defenders in coverage.

“Last game, the best thing about that is it’s the first game of the season. Nobody’s in panic mode,” Morton said. “The players have been awesome, great attitudes. We’ve had great preparation, just like we did last week. The bottom line is it’s just about execution and the details of everything. … How do we fix this? We’re in the fix-it business, as coaches. Dan’s been awesome, players have been awesome. We had a good practice yesterday, and we’re moving on to Chicago.”