Detroit Lions Make Surprise Roster Change
The Detroit Lions are coming up on a high-profile game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, October 12, and it’s one that will bring Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and other big names to Arrowhead Stadium. Heading into the game, the Chiefs are 2-3 and the Lions are 4-1, but the Chiefs are actually still favored to win this game. Some of that has to do with it being a home game for Kansas City, but we still think the Lions should be favored to win, based on their record vs. the Chiefs.
In any case, the Detroit Lions are putting the pieces together to hopefully beat the Chiefs at their own game on Sunday, and that means making roster changes. The Lions, like every team in the NFL, have been dealing with injuries this season, but so far, it hasn’t caused the team to lose games, which is good.
Now, the Lions have brought back a total fan favorite to their roster, and this one should make people in the Motor City smile. They’ll need the help, too, because Detroit’s most recent injury report is growing.
Detroit Lions Sign a Familiar Face
The Lions have placed cornerback Khalil Dorsey on IR and have signed fan favorite offensive lineman Dan Skipper to the active roster. They’ve also inked cornerback Arthur Maulet to the practice squad. For now, Terrion Arnold is avoiding being put on injury reserve.
However, in not-so-great news, Detroit practiced without five starters Wednesday, October 8: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond, Taylor Decker, Kerby Joseph and Terrion Arnold. Sione Vaki and Zach Cunningham were also missing from practice, and starting safety Brian Branch was limited during position drills.
Detroit Lions Are No. 1
Get ready for this one. The Detroit Lions are the No. 1 team in the NFL. Yes, you read that right, and if you want to kiss me for saying that, well, I don’t blame you. It’s really good news.
ESPN has released its power rankings for all of the NFL teams heading into Week 6. In the Tuesday, October 7 piece, they have the Detroit Lions as No. 1, showing that the Lions and our favorite Metallica enthusiast Dan Campbell are on top.
In the piece, Eric Woodyard notes, “After his first 1,000-yard season in 2024, (Jameson) Williams has started slowly in 2025. He hasn’t logged more than 50 receiving yards in four of the Lions’ five games, as he works to get in sync with veteran quarterback Jared Goff and overcome dropped passes.”
He adds, “Williams is viewed as a risky option because he’s averaging only 7.9 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues. He hasn’t turned limited targets into production or delivered consistently this season — but he can still make big plays.”
The Chiefs are way down at No. 10. “Isiah Pacheco was supposed to give the Chiefs better balance on offense after missing most of last season because of a broken right leg,” Nate Taylor notes. “But he is in a funk, averaging just 7.2 fantasy points per game and 32.6 rushing yards per game.”
Taylor adds, “Quarterback Patrick Mahomes led the team in September with 130 rushing yards. The sooner Pacheco can regain his form, the sooner the Chiefs can become a fully dynamic offense again.”
It’s absolutely incredible to see the Detroit Lions are No. 1. Let’s see them stay there.
Colin Cowherd Sparks Outrage with Wild Jared Goff Take Before Lions-Chiefs Showdown
Sunday’s showdown between the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs pits two of the league’s top quarterbacks, Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes, in a potential Super Bowl 60 preview.
If you ask Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd, though, he sees it as a battle of future Hall of Fame quarterbacks.
With three Super Bowl rings and no shortage of accolades on his resume, Mahomes has all but clinched his bronze bust in Canton. But you’d be hard-pressed to find many who would even consider Goff, who turns 31 on Oct. 14, to be on the verge of earning a spot in the Hall of Fame.
“No question, he’s gonna be a Hall of Famer,” Cowherd nonetheless argued on Wednesday. “He plays in rhythm, he plays in structure, he’s got great genetics ... Jared Goff is going to be a Hall of Famer.”
We won’t fault Cowherd for buying high on Goff, who enters Week 6 leading the NFL in completion percentage (75.2%) and touchdowns (12). Most importantly, the NFC North-leading Lions are 4-1, and Goff has only thrown two picks in 145 attempts.
Cowherd is free to feel optimistic about Goff and the Lions’ title chances, but the Hall of Fame is another conversation entirely.
Jared Goff Is Nowhere Close to Being a Hall of Fame Quarterback
Most football fans would likely agree that of the sport’s active quarterbacks, Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers are the only Hall of Fame locks. Matthew Stafford should join them, though we won’t be surprised to see some voters hold off. And while they might not be there
Then, there’s Goff. Pro Football Reference has a metric aptly called the Hall of Fame Monitor, which measures everything from traditional counting stats, like touchdowns or interceptions, to awards and All-Pro selections. Regardless of position, most Hall of Fame players score at least 100. For example, Tom Brady leads all quarterbacks with a 263.03 HOFm score, and even his biggest critics will agree he’s Hall of Fame-bound in a few years.
The average Hall of Fame quarterback scores at least a 108, and 11 quarterbacks have topped that number. Mahomes, at 102.08, could become the 12th within the coming months. Eight of the 11 are already in the Hall of Fame, and Drew Brees (140.58) is eligible to join them next year. Brady and Rodgers (197.91) will eventually have bronze busts, too.
Goff’s 47.95 HOFm ranks 57th among quarterbacks, putting him right below Raiders great Jim Plunkett’s 47.99. The only quarterback with a HOFm score under 60 is Buffalo Bills legend Jim Kelly, who finished at 59.10.
Is It Too Late for Jared Goff to Make the Hall of Fame?
We mentioned Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, so it’s worth pointing out that Allen sits at 60.13, and Jackson is already at 81.40. It’s hard to see voters keeping either player out if they win a Super Bowl.
It might be too late for Goff, though. Eli Manning (86.01) has two Super Bowl rings, and there are still doubts about whether he’ll earn induction. Ken Anderson (82.99) hasn’t come close, and Cam Newton (70.50) isn’t a Hall of Famer. Then, you start getting into guys like Boomer Esiason (67.93), Joe Theismann (66.35), and Roman Gabriel (65.80), who, while they were fine quarterbacks, won’t be confused with Hall of Famers.
This isn’t even about advanced metrics, though. Football fans looked at Brady, Peyton Manning, and Joe Montana and knew they were watching Hall of Famers. Outside of Cowherd, does anyone say that about Goff?
To be clear: Goff has had a fine career, and he has the Lions on track to eventually win their first Super Bowl. But by no means is Goff on a Hall of Fame path, and that’s fine. Lions fans will love him either way if he brings a long-awaited title to Detroit.
