Heading into the third week of regular-season action, the Detroit Lions haven’t done much of anything to address their defensive end unit. The Lions’ pass rush showed up big time in last week’s win over the Chicago Bears, but it came at a price.
Lions defensive end Marcus Davenport exited the game with a shoulder injury, and his status for Monday night’s game against the Baltimore Ravens is up in the air. With Davenport banged up, one would think that Detroit would sign another pass rusher to the practice squad.
However, that didn’t happen, as the Lions sat back and watched the Washington Commanders sign veteran Preston Smith on Wednesday. And then, to make matters worse, the Los Angeles Chargers reportedly signed Clelin Ferrell to their 53-man roster and Rashard Weaver to the practice squad.
Lions Running Out of Pass-Rusher Options Ahead of Week 3
Both the Commanders and Chargers needed pass rush depth and insurance following injuries to their defensive line in Week 2, which is smart. The fact that the Lions haven’t followed suit yet is puzzling.
With Smith, Ferrell, and Weaver now off the board, here are some of the best available options:
- Shaq Barrett
- DeMarcus Walker
- Yannick Ngakoue
- Jerry Hughes
- Carl Lawson
It’s not the most appealing list of pass rushers. That said, veterans such as Lawson and Walker could give Detroit an additional boost on the defensive line, and don’t have to be starters either.
Last season with the Dallas Cowboys, the 30-year-old Lawson appeared in 15 games but only made three starts. He still turned in 19 quarterback pressures, 15 quarterback hits, five sacks, and four tackles for loss.
Lawson also played in a 4-3 defensive scheme in Dallas, which works perfectly with what the Lions do with their defense. As for Walker, he was a full-time starter last year in Chicago. He didn’t get a bunch of sacks (3.5), but still made his presence felt on the defensive side of the ball.
The veteran posted 23 quarterback pressures, 16 quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks in 17 games. Walker played in a 4-3 defensive scheme in Chicago, but has the size and versatility to play in a 3-4 defense, which he did with the Tennessee Titans in 2022.
That being said, the Lions still have some okay, but not great options available. But they cannot afford to keep kicking the can down the road and neglecting their pass rusher. They’ve already lost out on Smith, Clowney, and Za’Darius Smith in a span of weeks. And one more injury to the unit could put them in serious trouble.