Lions Sign ‘Massive’ 6-Foot-7 Lineman to Replace Injured Veteran
The Detroit Lions have called in some big help after losing a key reserve lineman.
The team announced that tackle Jamarco Jones was headed to injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury in practice prior to the season opener. Jones had beaten out Dan Skipper for the No. 3 tackle spot, but was lost before the season started and will not return this year.
The Lions have already found a replacement, signing a 6-foot-7 lineman on Tuesday.
Lions Forced to Make Changes on Offensive Line
Lions head coach Dan Campbell confirmed to reporters on Tuesday that Jones would not be able to return this season, dealing a serious blow to the team’s depth. The Lions replaced him by signing former Cincinnati Bengals tackle Devin Cochran, who had been released before the start of the season.
Bengals reporter John Sheeran told AtoZ Sports that Cochran showed promise in nine appearances last season, including one start. While he will not compete for a starting role on what is considered one of the league’s best offensive lines in Detroit, Cochran will provide some trusted depth, Sheeran added.
“He’s not going to be a reliable starter, but as an emergency option off the bench, you could find worse as a midseason addition,” he said.
Reporter Jeremy Reisman of SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit predicted that the “massive” Cochran would be a servicable option if they neded to call on a backup.
“[Cochran] was finally called up from the practice squad [last season] and made nine game appearances for the Bengals, including one start at left tackle,” Reisman wrote. “Additionally, he logged 83 snaps at right tackle as a mid-game fill-in over three games. Over 100 pass blocking snaps, PFF charged him with eight pressures allowed, one sack, and a 50.8 pass blocking grade. Per PFF, he was slightly more successful over 52 run blocking snaps, earning a 57.5 grade.”
The Lions also have Skipper on the practice squad, with the possibility of three elevations this year if needed.
Lions Struggled on Offense in Week 1 Loss
After going 15-2 and earning the top overall seed in the NFC last season, the Lions got off to a rough start in 2025 with a resounding loss to rival Green Bay Packers. The Lions managed just six points in five red-zone drives in the game before finally getting a garbage-time touchdown from Jared Goff to rookie Isaac TeSlaa.
Campbell said new offensive cooridinator John Morton did a good job with the game design, but said the team needed to execute better in the running game in order to win.
“I thought he did good. There are a couple things that he wants back, certainly,” Campbell said of Morton. “But we got to be able to master bread and butter before you get to all the other stuff. The other stuff won’t matter if we can’t find a way to run the football for more than 2.1 per carry. That’s where everything starts for us.
“If we can’t, you’re out of play-action, you’re out of everything. Guys pin their ears back, and it makes it harder on some of those guys up front. That’s where it all begins really.”
Bears are paying $48 million to learn what Colts already knew
The Indianapolis Colts had to revamp their edge rush group a bit this offseason. The hope was that Laiatu Latu would make a significant jump in year two. He was pretty good in Week 1, but it's a long season. Indy also drafted JT Tuimoloau.
General manager Chris Ballard did decide to pass on re-signing steady Dayo Odeyingbo in free agency this past offseason, and that might have been a mistake. Odeyingbo might have been an excellent fit in new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's system, but Colts fans will never get to know.
The edge rusher, who had a career-high eight sacks in 2023, signed with the Chicago Bears instead. The deal was for three years and a maximum of $48 million. Chicago has been a rather bad team for a long time, but it does have Caleb Williams, a promising quarterback, and a new coaching staff.
The Indianapolis Colts loss of Dayo Odeyingbo might be the Chicago Bears huge gain
Odeyingbo appears to be a great fit with Chicago, too. In Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings, the edge rusher had one sack, two quarterback hits, a pass defended, and a tackle for loss. The Bears lost the game, but Odeyingbo played his part well.
The issue for Indianapolis and Odeyingbo is that while Indy didn't necessarily misuse the player, they certainly didn't consistently put him in positions where he would have his greatest impact. He was seen as more of a depth piece, though he stayed healthy and rather consistently productive.
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Oddly, he did start 14 games in 2024 after starting a combined five games in his first three seasons, and he only had three sacks. The system was failing him; however, instead of the player failing the scheme. The Bears are probably going to be lucky to have him.
The Indianapolis Colts simply didn't want to pay Dayo Odeyingbo what the Chicago Bears were willing to offer. The decision was probably a logical one last year, but not this one. Under Anarumo, Odeyingbo could have seen his sack numbers explode.
The Colts also had the money to re-sign the edge rusher, but spent the cash in other ways, such as signing Daniel Jones. So far, that move has turned out to be a brilliant one. In the end, maybe Dayo Odeyingbo and Indianapolis will both be winners.
