Latest news with #DetroitLions
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Detroit Lions linebacker James Houston signs with Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are signing former Detroit Lions linebacker James Houston, the team announced on social media Tuesday, July 22. Houston, a fourth-year player, appeared in eight games for the Lions in 2024 before the team waived him on Nov. 26. Houston was claimed the next day by the Cleveland Browns, where he played in three regular-season games, but the Browns declined to offer him a contract for the upcoming season. Advertisement The Lions originally drafted Houston in the sixth round of the 2022 draft, the second-to-last Lions pick in a fruitful draft that netted the team edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, star receiver Jameson Williams and All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph. Houston seemed on track to match the production of the rest of the Lions' draft class, notching eight sacks in just seven games in his rookie season in 2022 and finishing second on the team in sacks to Hutchinson (9½) despite starting the season on the practice squad. LIONS OBSERVATIONS: 'We got violence' in as physical a non-padded practice as I can recall Houston had trouble staying on the field, however. He was put on injured reserve after fracturing his ankle in a Week 2 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 17, 2023, putting him out for the rest of the 2023 season. He played in 11 total games in 2024 for the Lions and Browns but recorded only one sack, a steep decline from his rookie-year production. Houston struggled to fit into the Lions' defensive scheme in 2024, and was even a healthy scratch for three games early in the season. He'll now be heading to a Dallas defense that gave up the fifth-most yards in the NFL in 2024. You can reach Christian at cromo@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Former Detroit Lions LB James Houston signs with Dallas Cowboys
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dan Campbell Sends Warning To Rest Of NFL Entering 2025
Dan Campbell Sends Warning To Rest Of NFL Entering 2025 originally appeared on The Spun. Dan Campbell's Detroit Lions still have another hurdle to clear in 2025. The Lions continued their franchise turnaround by going 15-2 with the NFL's top scoring offense last year, but their most triumphant season in franchise history ended in a second-round playoff loss to the Washington Commanders. Detroit has still never played in a Super Bowl. Advertisement Campbell wants to end that drought and avenge last season's swift playoff exit with a title run. "We're out to finish what we started," Campbell said Monday, per Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein. "We're going to close out some of these debts." The league took notice of Detroit's success and ransacked Campbell's coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn landed head coaching jobs with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets, respectively. Advertisement Former Denver Broncos pass game coordinator John Morton replaces Johnson, and the Lions promoted linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard to fill Glenn's former job. DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 25: Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell looks on from the sideline during a regular season Thanksgiving Day NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions on November 25, 2021 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is confident in Morton and Sheppard handling their new roles. "It's not like we're going from Ben and AG to some coaches that don't know anything," St. Brown said. "Don't act like we're bringing in a scrub. These coaches know ball." Those changes could still jeopardize Detroit's status as a legitimate championship contender in 2025. The Lions lost another vital piece when Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow retired. Advertisement Amid much change, Campbell returns for his fifth season as head coach. Their record has improved each year, but the next step is competing for the Lombardi Trophy. "We're going to do what we do here from Dan more than anybody else — he's the top of the brain trust," wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery said. "Everything changes. Nothing stays the same. If it is, the complacency will kill you." Campbell's new staff won't get an easy adjustment period, as the Lions open the regular season with NFC North clashes against the Green Bay Packers and Johnson's Bears before facing the Baltimore Ravens on the road. Advertisement Related: NFL Legend Puts Jerry Jones On Blast For Questionable Behavior Dan Campbell Sends Warning To Rest Of NFL Entering 2025 first appeared on The Spun on Jul 22, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
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- Yahoo
Za'Darius Smith update: Detroit Lions' Brad Holmes talks possibility of pass rusher's return
From the sound of it, a possible reunion between the Detroit Lions and Za'Darius Smith isn't imminent. The organization hasn't had any recent conversations with the pass rusher or his representative, general manager Brad Holmes said Thursday. Advertisement 'I think we kind of left it as that his agent would let us know if something was going on or if anything has changed or if we have any updates, but no we haven't had any discussions since the annual meetings,' Holmes revealed. The Lions released Smith on March 10 in a cost-cutting move just four months after executing a trade with the Cleveland Browns to acquire him and a 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange for one Day 3 selection in each of the 2025 and 2026 drafts. Late last month, Holmes said the team couldn't 'afford' to keep Smith, who generated 40 pressures and collected four sacks in eight games with Detroit. He was set to make just $1.5 million in base salary this year but would have been owed $8.99 million in bonus money if he remained on the roster. Management approached Smith about taking a pay cut, but he elected to explore his options on the open market. Smith remains unsigned and the Lions haven't added any new pass rushers via free agency. Detroit Lions defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) tackles Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (4) during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. Last week, Smith was spotted at a Detroit Pistons game and Holmes previously indicated he would leave the door open for the 32-year-old veteran to return, saying earlier this month the organization had maintained a dialogue with his agent. Advertisement But apparently the line has gone silent the past two weeks, which seems to signal that if Smith were to rejoin the Lions it's not expected to happen in the immediate future. Contact Rainer Sabin at rsabin@ Follow him @RainerSabin on X. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Why a Detroit Lions reunion with Za'Darius Smith doesn't appear imminent
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Alex Anzalone: 'I Want to Retire With Lions But Disappointed' By Contract Talks
National Football League Alex Anzalone: 'I Want to Retire With Lions But Disappointed' By Contract Talks Published Jul. 22, 2025 2:09 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link Alex Anzalone is part of the DNA of the Detroit Lions. He just wants to be paid like that. "I want to retire a Lion. I want that opportunity. That's how I feel. I'm disappointed. Let's just say that," Anzalone said on Tuesday morning when asked about his contract talks with the franchise, according to "Disappointed." Anzalone, who's entering the final season of a three-year, $18.3 million deal and is currently sidelined due to a hamstring injury, said that he made it clear "a while ago" to general manager Brad Holmes and Co. that he wanted a new contract in a situation the linebacker labels as "weird." The 30-year-old Anzalone – who turns 31 in September – has spent the past four seasons with the Lions (2021-24), most notably averaging 127 combined tackles per season from 2022-23. Last season, Anzalone missed six games due to a broken forearm and one game due to a concussion. In the 11 regular-season games that he appeared in, Anzalone totaled 63 combined tackles, five passes defended and one sack; he then totaled 13 combined tackles in Detroit's divisional round loss to the Washington Commanders. Anzalone ranked 17th among linebackers with a 73.7 coverage grade, 70th with a 67.8 overall grade, 83rd with a 59.7 pass-rush grade and 148th with a 56.3 run-defense grade, according to Pro Football Focus. ADVERTISEMENT "I put so much into my time here and being a four-time captain and a teammate and the city, and just living here," Anzalone said. "You can list all the reasons. It's just important to me. I love this place. I want that opportunity. I feel like I've done that a lot [play through injuries] through my four years here. I'm just in a situation where it's, you want to be rewarded for that. Or at least in some regard, yeah." Anzalone, who was selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints, was part of a Lions defense that was fifth in the NFL in opponent rushing yards (98.4 per game) and seventh in opponent points (20.1 per game) last season. Detroit is coming off a 15-2 season but has a new defensive coordinator in former four-year team linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard, who was promoted in the wake of former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn leaving to become the new head coach of the New York Jets. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience National Football League Detroit Lions Alex Anzalone share
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Mike Vrabel shares long-awaited update on Patriots DC Terrell Williams
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel announced that defensive coordinator Terrell Williams is back with the team after a recent health scare. An undisclosed medical incident kept Williams away from the team throughout most of the offseason program, but there were always expectations that he would return at some point. He officially joined the Patriots' staff back in January, after spending the 2024 season as the defensive line coach and run game coordinator for the Detroit Lions. His ties with Vrabel go as far back as their time together with the Tennessee Titans from 2018-2022. Now, they are officially reunited in New England for a new opportunity in 2025 and beyond. Williams has remained in touch with the team through Zoom calls. So he hasn't been out of the loop on things heading into training camp. It will be interesting to see how he implements his defensive style in person. He is known for an aggressive style, which is something that the team was missing last season. Patriots fans are hoping he can implement it with great effect immediately. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
