Overview
- Head coach Dan Campbell publicly backed second-year defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard on Monday and called the unit’s performance unacceptable while saying he still believes the current staff can correct the problems.
- Detroit’s defense has allowed 71 points in the first two games, including a 41-point outing at Buffalo that exposed poor run fits, multiple communication breakdowns in coverage, and long, explosive plays against the secondary.
- Injuries have worsened Detroit’s coverage issues: starting cornerback Avonte Maddox suffered a foot injury that has been reported as season-ending and safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph remain on the physically unable to perform list.
- The Lions have begun short-term roster evaluations for the depleted secondary, scheduling workouts with veteran defensive backs such as Jordan Fuller and Jalen Mills and adding Jalen Mills to the practice squad as a temporary measure.
- The coming Week 3 game against the New York Jets is being framed as the near-term test for whether schematic tweaks, cleaner execution, and any veteran additions produce clear defensive improvement; Sheppard’s work will be judged by those results.