The Detroit Lions kept their playoff hopes alive on Thursday night, and Kelvin Sheppard had a big hand in the 44-30 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The Lions’ defensive coordinator hatched an aggressive game plan to force the Cowboys into three turnovers and generate five sacks in the win, but it appears he’ll need to do more to keep his unit afloat.
The development came in the fourth quarter when Brian Branch left the game due to an injury. On Friday morning, the injury was revealed to be a torn Achilles tendon by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, leaving the Lions’ secondary in shambles after losing Terrion Arnold for the season due to a shoulder injury earlier in the week.
With Lions defenders piling up on injured reserve for the second straight season, it makes a playoff march that was already on thin ice more difficult. It also puts Sheppard into the spotlight as he’ll look to help Detroit go further than it managed to go a year ago.
Pressure Turns Up on Kelvin Sheppard as Lions Secondary Falls Apart
Lions fans remember the pain of last year. Detroit won a franchise-record 15 games and earned home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, but they were a wounded unit with 13 players on season-ending injured reserve. While the Lions navigated the mess through the regular season, it burned them in the playoffs in a 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders in the divisional round.
Sheppard was the Lions’ linebackers coach for that run but was promoted to defensive coordinator after Aaron Glenn departed to become the head coach of the New York Jets last winter. Sheppard’s first season in the role has gone well overall, but after Thursday night, Detroit ranks 12th in yards per play (5.2) and 18th in scoring defense (23.4 ppg) as injuries have piled up in the secondary.
There is some good news for Sheppard, who could see Kerby Joseph return this week as he works his way back from a knee injury. But comments made by Joseph and Dan Campbell suggest the issue isn’t going to go away this season and could be a lingering concern throughout his career, meaning Sheppard may not be able to lean on Joseph as much as he wants.
There are also concerns for the players who are on the field. D.J. Reed grabbed an interception and had a pass breakup on Thursday night, but he also allowed nine catches for 130 yards and a touchdown while committing three penalties (two declined), according to Pro Football Focus. Amik Robertson had a similarly bad night with eight receptions allowed for 112 yards and a touchdown as he’s been forced to play more on the outside due to the wave of injuries.
To get by, it puts more pressure on the front seven and a pass-rush that ranks fifth in the NFL with 37 sacks but 10th with a 22.9% pressure rate after Thursday’s win. But Sheppard still needs to find a way to get improved play on the back end after Detroit allowed 376 passing yards to Dak Prescott.
In Sheppard’s case, this is the job he signed up for, and his adjustments will be in the spotlight as Detroit looks to earn another spot in the playoffs.