The bye week couldn't have come at a better time for the Detroit Lions. Desperately needing to get healthy, the Lions will benefit greatly from the additional week of rest. Yet, that didn't stop defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard's unit from completely dominating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football.
Despite the impressive performance throughout the game, the Lions' defense could still use reinforcements before the November 4 trade deadline.
The Lions' patchwork secondary put on a show and understandably received the most attention since Monday night. The backups and practice squad call-ups exceeded all expectations, making big plays and coming up with key takeaways.
The pass rush, however, has gone under the radar. The Lions were able to generate 40 pressures, five sacks, and three QB hits, per Pro Football Focus. Tyrus Wheat was a surprise breakout, recording two sacks in his eight defensive snaps, and Al-Quadin Muhammad continued to add to his impressive 2025 campaign with another sack.
Lions Should Consider Adding to Pass Rush Rotation in Trade Deadline
Yet, Detroit could certainly use more firepower in the defensive end rotation for the second half of the season. The Lions' pass rush has been making plays all season, getting 23 sacks so far, and forcing fumbles and interceptions. However, the unit lacks depth. Muhammad has been one of the brightest spots for the team, ranking only behind Aidan Hutchinson in most pass rush metrics.
After Hutchinson and Muhammad, there is a drop-off among Detroit's pass rushers. Tyler Lacy and Pat O'Connor are the next two edge defenders in terms of pass rush snaps for the season, and neither player has been particularly impactful.
Marcus Davenport continues to be sidelined with a chest injury, and even though his eventual return will certainly help, we have seen very little of him this season to know what level he's at. Josh Paschal could be a valuable depth piece, but he remains without a timeline for his return.
That is why adding another pass rusher into the mix would be very helpful for the Lions. Detroit's ability to find diamonds in the rough is impressive, but that is harder to do at EDGE.
Kelvin Sheppard and Dan Campbell can get the most out of any under-the-radar defender, but Super Bowl contenders need an elite pass rush rotation. As good as the Lions have been this season, they don't have enough to sustain any more injuries or underperformance from their pass rushers, creating a need for a trade before the deadline.