Head coach Dan Campbell confirmed Friday that the Lions were serious contenders to acquire cornerback Joey Porter Jr. before the Pittsburgh Steelers traded him to the Dallas Cowboys. While previous reports suggested only exploratory talks, Campbell stated general manager Brad Holmes had been active in the negotiations for some time. “Brad was, he’s been on it for a while. That’s been ongoing and everything’s got to align right, you know. The Cowboys did what they wanted to do, but we were very much in on it,” Campbell said. The admission clarifies the front office’s urgency to address a secondary that ranks near the bottom of the league in pass defense, though the Lions ultimately balked at the price tag Dallas secured with a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-rounder.

Injury List Thins for Sunday Night Football

The roster composition for Sunday Night Football in Charlotte takes shape with Ben Bartch officially ruled out due to a foot injury, marking his second consecutive game missed. Starting cornerback D.J. Reed remains questionable with a rib injury despite practicing in a limited capacity all week, while edge rusher DJ Wonnum has returned to full practice and carries no game designation. On the defensive side of the ball, safety Brian Branch is nearing a return from an Achilles tear sustained last December. Campbell described Branch as “close” to returning, noting the player has put in “a ton of work” and looks ready to go.

Offensive Line Sets Standard Against Depleted Secondary

Offensive line rookie Blake Miller continues to lead the league in pass block win rate, a statistic that has helped quarterback Jared Goff post eight touchdowns and zero interceptions through three weeks. The unit faces a depleted Carolina secondary this weekend after the Panthers placed starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson on injured reserve. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing acknowledged the uncertainty of facing a defense without its top cover men, noting that schemes often shift based on personnel availability. “It adds to the unknown. There’s an element of, ‘Do they change? Do they not? Who’s going to be in the game?'” Petzing said.

Mays Return Timeline and Gibbs Praise

Center Cade Mays, who missed the season’s start with a fractured wrist, is targeted to return following the Week 6 bye, which would see him reclaim the starting job from replacement Juice Scruggs. Meanwhile, Amon-Ra St. Brown praised running back Jahmyr Gibbs for his ability to adapt as a receiver, calling the fourth-year back a “freak” who asks the right questions to improve his route running. Despite the offensive line’s success in pass protection, the unit still seeks to improve its run blocking efficiency to complement Gibbs, who has already tallied four rushing touchdowns and 307 yards.

This article was created by aggregating Detroit Lions news using Artificial Intelligence.