Detroit Lions Depth Chart
- NFC North
- Stadium
- Ford Field
- Head Coach
- Dan Campbell
- Offensive Coordinator
- Ben Johnson
- Defensive Coordinator
- Aaron Glenn
- Special Teams Coach
- Dave Fipp
- Defensive Scheme
- 4-3
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (arm) will not be cleared to practice until training camp this summer while he recovers from an arm injury. Joseph suffered the arm injury during the NFC Championship game loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and it's going to keep him out of workouts this spring. But as long as the 23-year-old doesn't suffer a setback when he gets back on the field in training camp, he should be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season and will operate as Detroit's starting free safety. The former third-rounder in 2022 out of Illinois has recorded 164 tackles (124 solo), eight interceptions, 19 passes defended, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 32 games (29 starts) in his first two years in the NFL. When healthy, Joseph is on the fantasy radar in IDP leagues for depth at the DB position.
Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker (ankle, foot) said on Tuesday that he underwent surgery on his ankle and foot this offseason. The surgery was related to an injury that he's been dealing with since college. Decker said he feels great walking around now. He'll be limited this spring but should be fine for the start of the 2024 regular season this fall. Despite not being 100 percent healthy last year, the 29-year-old only missed two regular-season games for the Lions and played in all three of their playoff contests. The former 16th overall pick by Detroit in the 2016 NFL draft out of Ohio State is one of the big reasons why the Lions' offense has soared in recent seasons as he's protected quarterback Jared Goff's blind side.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, speaking on Sunday morning's episode of SportsCenter, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff is expected to receive a contract extension worth $45-50 million per year. The veteran signal-caller has been open about his fondness for Detroit. It appears the franchise is also pleased with his performance, considering the Lions made it to the NFC Championship and narrowly beat the 49ers to earn a trip to the Super Bowl. Without a doubt, Goff has been instrumental in turning things around for the Lions. He finished the 2023-24 campaign by amassing 4,575 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, some of the best numbers of his career. From a fantasy standpoint, Goff's stock has never been higher, especially since he has plenty of weapons in his arsenal, including Amon-Ra St. Brown, who finished the year as one of the league's most potent wideouts. Nonetheless, both sides still have some things to work out, although a new deal could come soon.
The Detroit Lions re-signed cornerback Kindle Vildor to an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday. Vildor will return to Detroit after spending the 2023 season with the Lions and Tennessee Titans. In just seven games (two starts) between the two teams, he had 11 tackles (10 solo) and a forced fumble. Vildor also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles last year but only played in NFL games in Detroit and Tennessee. The 26-year-old was originally a fifth-round pick (163rd overall) by the Chicago Bears in 2020 out of Georgia Southern. Vildor spent the first three years of his NFL career in Chicago and has a total of 108 tackles (77 solo), one sack, five tackles for loss, one interception, 12 passes defensed and a forced fumble in 51 games (24 starts) over four years in the league. It remains to be seen if Vildor will be a starter in 2024 after becoming a starter in Week 17 last year.
The Detroit Lions decided to match the three-year, $12 million offer that the San Francisco 49ers gave restricted free-agent tight end Brock Wright, according to a source. The Niners tried to pry Wright away from the Lions, but Detroit wasn't having it and will retain the 25-year-old as a backup to up-and-coming pass-catching tight end Sam LaPorta. If Wright had gone to the Bay Area, he would have served as a backup to George Kittle. The 25-year-old is mostly used as a blocker in the running game and isn't on the fantasy radar at all. The former undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame has only 43 receptions for 424 yards and seven touchdowns in three NFL seasons and had 13 catches (14 targets) for 91 yards and one touchdown in 14 regular-season games (four starts) in 2023.