The Detroit Lions are in need of depth in their pass-rushing group after putting Marcus Davenport on injured reserve, and could find it in the form of a former first-round pick.
The Lions lost their starting defensive end to a chest injury, placing him on injured reserve this week and ensuring that he will miss at least the next month. Marlowe Alter of the Detroit Free Press broke down the potential replacement options, including a 26-year-old former first-rounder who could be hitting the trade block soon.
Lions Could Turn to Struggling AFC East Team
Alter suggested the Lions could find help from the Miami Dolphins, who are in danger of falling out of playoff contention less than a month into the season. The Dolphins have started 0-3, which Alter believes could lead them to put Jaelan Phillips on the trade block.
As Alter noted, Phillips could be a one-year rental and has proven to be a productive edge rusher.
“Phillips was the 18th overall pick by Miami in the 2021 NFL Draft,” Alter wrote. “After playing in 17 games in each of his first two seasons (15½ sacks combined), he played in eight games in 2023 with 6½ sacks and four in 2024 with one sack. He has nine tackles in three games for the 0-3 Dolphins. He is playing on the final year of his rookie deal.”
Phillips could come at a high cost, with other teams in need of edge rushing help and the Dolphins likely gathering assets for a rebuild.
Alter noted there could be other options, including New Orleans Saints edge rusher Cam Jordan. Alter noted that Jordan has an existing connection to Lions head coach Dan Campbell.
“Jordan, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, has 123 sacks in 229 games in the regular season,” Alter wrote. “He’s familiar with Campbell, when Campbell was a Saints assistant from 2016-20.”
The Lions faced a similar situaiton in 2024, when star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson went down in October with a fractured leg. The team brought in veteran Za’Darius Smith for help and he ended the season with 4.0 sacks.
There had been speculation that the Lions could bring back Smith after releasing him early in the offseason, and general manager Brad Holmes confirmed that the team had been in contact with Smith’s camp, but he ultimately signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Lions Hit With Another Injury
The Lions called on reserve Al-Quadin Muhammad to take on a bigger role after Davenport’s injury and he responded with a huge day against the Baltimore Ravens, sacking Lamar Jackson 2.5 times in the 38-31 win. The Lions hounded the former MVP quarterback all game, sacking him seven times.
But as Benjamin Raven of MLive.com noted, Muhammad was ailing at practice this week and his status for this weekend’s game against the Cleveland Browns is up in the air.
“Al-Quadin Muhammad was held out of Wednesday’s walkthrough due to a knee injury,” Raven wrote. “He was back at Thursday’s practice in a limited capacity. Muhammad hasn’t spoken much in the locker room this week. He’s brushed off any thoughts of real concern about his status when asked by reporters.”
