Lions Announce Final Decision on Key Injured Player
The Detroit Lions are holding their own for the 2025-26 season and a solid 3-1 with only one loss of the season to the Green Bay Packers. But, the Packers loss seems like forever ago, so it’s best not to dwell on it and instead to look ahead to the game coming up. Detroit is coming up on their Week 5 taking on against the 2-2 Bengals on Sunday, October 5, and while it certainly helps that Joe Burrow is out, that’s not a guarantee the Lions will win. So, they have to work for it, and they will.
While Cincinnati is dealing with their issues with Burrow being out, the Lions have some players who aren’t healthy right now, too. So far, they’re doing better than last season, when it seemed like every single defensive player was injured for the season. But, they still have some key players that won’t be available for the Bengals game, which is troubling.
Now, the Detroit Lions have made their final decision on a key player in their lineup, and he won’t be back on the field for at least a month. This one hurts.
Detroit Lions Make Final Call on Injured Player
The Detroit Lions have made their final call on if cornerback D.J. Reed will be on the field again at any point soon, and the answer is no. In a post on X on Wednesday, October 1, the Detroit Lions announce a slew of roster moves. One was putting Reed on reserve/injured after suffering a hamstring injury, meaning he won’t be available for at least four weeks. Let’s hope Reed gets better and starts rocking it again soon.
They also signed safety Loren Strickland and linebacker Ty Summers to the active roster from the practice squad and signed cornerbacks Tre Flowers and Nick Whiteside to the practice squad. So, it was a busy day of moves for the Detroit Lions as they prep for the Bengals.
Reed didn’t participate in Wednesday’s practice but was seen “in the locker room without a boot or brace on his injured leg,” according to a Wednesday, October 1, feature from Eric Woodyard of ESPN. Woodyard added that, “No surgery is required, but Reed anticipated he would be placed on the IR list before the news was officially announced.”
Prior, Reed had told the media, “We don’t have a timetable of like when I’m going to be back, but yeah, I strained it pretty bad. “I don’t need surgery so just got to rehab it.”
Detroit Lions Are Making Waves in the NFL
People are noticing the Detroit Lions in a good way. In the NFL’s latest power rankings, out on Tuesday, September 30, Eric Edholm puts the Lions at No. 3, which is fantastic.
“Detroit was not prolific offensively against Cleveland, but no one has been this season,” Edholm notes. “Still, this is the second time in four games where the Lions have been kept somewhat grounded on offense, even if they’ve taken good care of the football. Committing five offensive penalties was out of character, and Detroit’s still trying to hone the connection between Jared Goff and Jameson Williams.
The Lions have just a few more weeks to go until their Week 8 bye week. So, hopefully they can get everyone healthy by the time their bye week is over.
Lane Johnson and Jalen Hurts Call Out Eagles' "Ugly" Playstyle: "We’ll Win, But We Need to Fix This"
In a candid and fiery post-game discussion, Philadelphia Eagles stars Lane Johnson and Jalen Hurts didn’t hold back, calling out their team’s "ugly" playstyle despite securing another win. As the Eagles continue their push for a sustainable championship run, both leaders voiced their frustration with the team’s inconsistency on the field and made it clear that they need to clean things up if they want to reach their full potential.
"We’re winning, but it’s not pretty," Johnson said bluntly, his tone sharp. "We’re getting by, but that kind of football isn’t going to cut it if we want to make a deep run. We’ve got a lot of work to do."
Hurts, who has been the cornerstone of the Eagles' offense, echoed Johnson’s sentiments, adding, "We know we can play better. We’ve got to clean up the mistakes. The ugly stuff we’re seeing now—it's not going to be enough down the stretch."
The Eagles' offensive line, often praised for its dominance, has had moments of struggle. Meanwhile, Hurts, though playing through injury, has shown flashes of brilliance but also has been forced to rely on his legs more than his arm at times, leading to some sloppy, unrefined plays.
"We’re getting the wins, but we’re not playing the kind of football we’re capable of," Hurts admitted. "We know we’ve got the talent, but execution has to improve. It’s a long season, and we need to play cleaner, smarter, and more disciplined football if we want to go all the way."
While the Eagles remain at the top of the NFC, their leaders are pushing for better execution and less of what Johnson described as "ugly" football. Johnson was especially vocal about the team’s offensive mistakes, which have led to unnecessary penalties, missed assignments, and missed opportunities.
"We’ve been skating by, but that’s not the way we want to play. We can’t keep making the same mistakes week in and week out," Johnson emphasized. "We know the talent is there, but it’s all about consistency and attention to detail."
With the season’s ultimate goal of a Super Bowl in sight, the Eagles understand that while winning is the bottom line, they can’t afford to overlook the flaws in their game. The challenge now is whether they can clean up their performance without losing the intensity that has gotten them this far.
"Fixing the ugly stuff starts with each of us," Hurts said. "It’s up to the team to look at what we’re doing wrong and get better. We know what we’re capable of, but we’ve got to get to that point where it’s not just about winning—we’re playing the right way."
As the Eagles aim for long-term success, the message is clear: the road to greatness isn’t paved with ugly wins. They’ve got to fix it now if they want to sustain their dominance and achieve their Super Bowl aspirations.
