Thoughts to End the Week: Reinforcements incoming, shifting roles, key matchup for Sunday and Stafford solidifying Hall resume
Allen Park — Here are six thoughts to end the week as the Detroit Lions prepare to face the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday.
Incoming reinforcements
The Lions are on the verge of getting a wave of defensive reinforcements. Four injured contributors returned to practice in recent weeks, with two potentially ready to be added to the active roster this weekend.
Everything suggests linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez is the closest, having fully participated in both Wednesday and Thursday’s practice. Out since last November with an ACL tear that required a second, cleanup procedure during the summer, he’s also the least likely of the four to see immediate playing time, at least on defense.
Detroit’s starting trio of Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes has been one of the league’s best starting groups, with the individual pieces each elevating their play in 2025. They’ve been so good that the Lions have been able to swim against the current with their personnel usage, playing base defense (three linebackers, four defensive backs) more than almost any team.
Campbell, Anzalone and Barnes have all played 100% of the defensive snaps the past two weeks and are all above 90% for the season. That’s allowed the Lions to deploy base defense on 58.7% of their snaps, second only to the Raiders. Cleveland, which ranks third, is at 33.3%, while the league average is just 13.4%.
That’s left almost no playing time for Detroit’s other linebackers. Trevor Nowaske had a small role early in the season, but has gone a month without a defensive snap. Zach Cunningham — currently on injured reserve — and Grant Stuard have seen a handful in goal-line duty.