USA TODAY Sports ranks the Detroit Lions' defense No. 19 entering the 2026 season. Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard's unit has fallen nine spots since USA TODAY's June ranking that slated the Lions No. 10.
A major concern for Detroit is its injury-plagued secondary.
The Lions released former first-round cornerback Terrion Arnold earlier this offseason. Starting safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch will miss at least four games as both were placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list to begin the 2026 season.
Joseph, a first-team All-Pro and the NFL's interceptions leader in 2024, continues to deal with a degenerative knee issue that limited him to six games in 2025. Meanwhile, Branch is recovering from a torn Achilles that he suffered in December. Sheppard will be leaning on the front seven to take pressure off its secondary in the meantime.
NFL reporter Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz had this to say about the Lions' defense:
#lions #joseph #branch #games
A major concern for Detroit is its injury-plagued secondary.
The Lions released former first-round cornerback Terrion Arnold earlier this offseason. Starting safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch will miss at least four games as both were placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list to begin the 2026 season.
Joseph, a first-team All-Pro and the NFL's interceptions leader in 2024, continues to deal with a degenerative knee issue that limited him to six games in 2025. Meanwhile, Branch is recovering from a torn Achilles that he suffered in December. Sheppard will be leaning on the front seven to take pressure off its secondary in the meantime.
NFL reporter Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz had this to say about the Lions' defense:
#lions #joseph #branch #games
3 days ago
