Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard was asked Monday if Detroit's defense is currently affecting the quarterback enough to play the kind of aggressive, man coverage in the backend that Sheppard is known for wanting to play.
"I don't think we've affected the quarterback to play any style," Sheppard said. "I don't care what kind of style we want to play."
The Lions have given up over 600 passing yards and seven passing touchdowns the last two weeks alone and have just one sack over that span. Detroit's defense has generated four sacks total in their last four contests and Detroit's defensive line is responsible for just 2.5 of those.
The Lions are allowing the longest average time for opposing quarterback to throw the football at 2.99 seconds.
Sheppard is attacking the problem head on this week, and that could mean some personnel and schematic changes for Thursday night's contest at Ford Field with the Dallas Cowboys and their No. 1 scoring and passing offense.
"Obviously we haven't affected the quarterback at the rate that we were earlier in the year," Sheppard said. "There's things that we're going to switch up a little bit by personnel, by schematically. But at the end of the day, you're starting to get into November, December, players make plays."
Teams are paying extra attention to Lions star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who has 1.5 sacks over Detroit's last four contests, and while defensive lineman Alim McNeill has given the pass rush a boost since returning from a knee injury, Detroit needs more from their pass rush collectively down the stretch.
"He knows, just like we know, people are going to plan for him," Sheppard said of Hutchinson. "That's why he is one of the best and he has to combat that. But it isn't a one-man show. Other people have to win. I'm not just talking about Hutch, I'm not just talking about (McNeill) Mac. I thought Mac was a very impactful rusher in the middle all Thanksgiving Day. But it just can't be those two guys. When your name is called, if you draw a one-on-one, you have to win in this league if you want to be around. And it's just simple as that."
Sheppard is looking for playmakers on defense to step up for this stretch run.
"It's a lot of too close, almost happening still in November going into now December where that absolutely won't be tolerated. Being close isn't good enough," he said.
"You have to make that play - and that's coverage and rush, they marry each other. There's no dominant defensive secondary in this league without a good pass rush, there's no good pass rush without some type of coverage happening on the back end. So, the guys understand that, and we have to find a way to mesh and gel those at the highest level this week against one of the top - if not the top - offense in the NFL right now."
JOSEPH BACK AT PRACTICE
It was good to see No. 31 taking part in the open portion of practice Monday.
All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph hasn't been on the practice field for the Lions in over a month due to a lingering knee injury.
"Kerby's doing great, he's ready to get back," Sheppard said Monday. "He was as upbeat as I've ever seen him last week leading into the week, knowing that he's scratching and clawing. Hopefully it's a chance we get him back pretty soon here. But Kerby's good."
It would be big for the defense to get a player back like Joseph who is so good at getting his hands on the football. Joseph leads the Lions with three interceptions despite missing the last six games. Detroit is 6-1 this season when generating a takeaway and are 1-4 when they don't.
TIGHT END HELP
With Sam LaPorta currently on Reserve/Injured and Brock Wright potentially missing his second straight game Thursday with a neck injury, the Lions are thin at tight end.
Veteran Shane Zylstra won a roster spot as the third tight end out of training camp but suffered an injury Week 2 against the Bears and was placed on Reserve/Injured. The Lions opened his practice window to return on Monday.
It's unclear if he'll have enough practice time under his belt to help Detroit as soon as Thursday's contest vs. Dallas, but Zylstra does provide more of a receiving threat at the position than any other tight end currently on Detroit's roster. He had four touchdown receptions for the Lions in 2022.
EXTRA POINT
- Detroit released offensive lineman Netane Muti from the practice squad and signed wide receiver Andrew Armstrong to the practice squad.
