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By James Brizuela
Contributing Writer
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The Detroit Lions are dealing with injuries on both sides of the ball. Tight end Sam LaPorta continues to be held out of practice with an ankle injury, and the team has multiple players on IR like defensive end Marcus Davenport, right tackle Connor Galvin, and more.
More news: Raiders WR Davante Adams Pops Up on Injury Report With Hamstring Issue
To make matters worse, the Lions are officially placing star linebacker Derrick Barnes on IR. Barnes suffered a knee injury during Sunday's win against the Arizona Cardinals and will now miss out on at least the next four games.
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According to NFL inside Jordan Schultz, The #Lions are officially placing starting LB Derrick Barnes on IR after he sustained a knee injury during Sunday's game vs the #Cardinals. One of Detroit's top defensive players, it's a huge loss for Dan Campbell to replace."
Losing Barnes will impact the Lions' defense greatly. He was a starter and one of the strongest linebackers on the team. Barnes secured 10 total tackles in 2024. Eight of those 10 tackles were solo.
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Barnes became one of the biggest heroes of the 2023 postseason, as he intercepted a pass from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers which secured the victory for the Lions. The play helped to catapult Detroit to its first NFC Conference game since 1991.
Barnes has been with the Lions since 2021 when he was drafted by the team in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Purdue.
Barnes played for Purdue from 2017 to 2020. While there, he secured 225 total tackles, with 158 of those tackles being solo. He also brought in 10.5 sacks and one interception.
Since his arrival in Detroit, he has become a cornerstone for the Lions' defense. He has secured a career total of 205 tackles, four sacks, one interception, and four passes defended while with the team.
Barnes will be eligible to return to the Lions roster in Week 8 when the team is set to face off against their biggest rival the Green Bay Packers. The hope is Barnes will be ready to go by then, but he could miss more time based on the severity of the knee injury he suffered.
More news: 49ers News: Massive Deebo Samuel Injury Update Ahead of Week 4
The good news is the Lions are 2-1 and are still looking like a strong playoff contender in the NFC. Detroit will face off against the Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, and Minnesota Vikings in the next three weeks.
All three opponents will be tough, and the defense will certainly be less dynamic without Barnes. However, expect head coach Dan Campbell to inspire the team in the same manner that he has the last two seasons.
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