ESPN's latest commentary on Lions' Week 1 loss is a comical overreaction
After just one game, the Detroit Lions have been eliminated from the 2025 playoffs.
At least, that's how it feels after reading so many of the reactions from pundits about their Week 1 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Forget growing pains and adjustments needed thanks to a new offensive line, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator - the fact that the Lions didn't piece it all together in one game means they're back to their haunting 2021-2022 days.
Thankfully for Detroit and for Lions fans, though, that's not at all how the team is feeling as they head into Week 2 against the Chicago Bears. They're ready to clean things up with their communication and missed assignments from Week 1, and are hopeful for a bounce back at home against Ben Johnson.
However, the situation is being described as far more dire than that by ESPN's Jeff Saturday and Louis Riddick, who have Detroit penciled in for a change at playcaller if they lose their first 2025 match against the Bears.
Lions receiving ridiculous calls for change at OC after just one game
"I think it's panic time because of what [Peter Schrager] is saying about the internal portion of the offensive line, and the mentality, right? How long does Dan Campbell go with John Morton calling plays if you’re averaging 2 yards running and 3 yards passing, and last year was the antithesis?," asked Saturday on
Riddick added, "They've gotta get [Jahmyr Gibbs] going, they've gotta get Jameson Williams going, they've gotta get Amon-Ra going, because I'll tell you this: if John Morton doesn't get them going, Dan Campbell will be calling plays very soon, or someone else."
Let's just take a step back for a moment. Detroit came into Lambeau Field and looked like a shell of themselves against a tightly run Packers defense, to be sure. But, to expect their offense or their line to come into Week 1 fully gelled with one another with so many key personnel changes having taken place in the offseason would've been maddening.
Pundits and analysts like Riddick and Saturday are clearly surprised that they didn't witness the high octane offense of the 2024 Lions in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season.
However, losing an All-Pro at center, placing an average guard at center in his place, and then relying on two young offensive linemen to anchor the interior against a Packers D-line that features Micah Parsons, Rashan Gary, and Edgerrin Cooper, and expecting that to all click, is just setting yourself up for failure.
Detroit is still going to have to leave Ford Field with a win, as ridiculous as that sounds, just to quell this talk quickly.
Former Lightning Forward Corey Perry Suffers Injury During Offseason Skate
Former Lightning forward Corey Perry’s availability for the start of the season may be in question after Los Angeles–based outlet MayorsManor.com reported that he appeared to suffer an injury along the boards at the L.A. Kings practice facility. Perry was reportedly taken off the ice in a wheelchair.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman confirmed that Perry was injured during Friday’s skate and is currently undergoing further evaluation. It remains uncertain whether an update will be made available before training camp.
Perry spent the 2021-22 and 2022-23 NHL seasons with the Lightning before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. The 40-year old spent the last two seasons with the Edmonton Oilers. On July 1 he signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Kings as a free agent.
Ex-Lightning Forward Signs PTO With Big Rival
Former Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Motte has landed a professional tryout (PTO) with one of the team's biggest rivals.
According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Florida Panthers have signed Motte to a PTO.
Motte is among the veteran unrestricted free agents (UFAs) still looking for a contract for the 2025-26 season. However, after landing this PTO with the Panthers, he is now another step closer to potentially landing one.
Motte was a member of the Lightning during the 2023-24 season, where he primarily played in their bottom six. In 69 games with the Bolts that campaign, he recorded six goals, nine points, 41 takeaways, 97 hits, and a minus-8 rating.
Motte's time with the Lightning ended this past off-season when he signed with the Detroit Red Wings. In 55 games with the Original Six club in 2024-25, he recorded four goals, nine points, and 72 hits.
It will now be interesting to see if Motte can successfully earn a contract from the Panthers for the season through his PTO from here.
