Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has an appropriate nickname for the Detroit Lions' defense in 2025. He refers to them as the firefighters.
Sudden change after a turnover. Put out the fire. Don't get a fourth down conversion on offense. Put out the fire.
"Our head coach believes no matter where I put this defense, they're going to put the fire out," Sheppard said Thursday. "So, I don't care if Dan (Campbell) goes for it on every fourth down. It's our job as a defense to go out there and stand tall in that test. We're the firefighters on this team.
"That's the mentality you've got to have as a defensive player. No pointing the fingers, no 'what if' this, no 'what if' that. Always take the field like this unit did for the most part of that Philadelphia game. Understanding no matter the situation, we are able to go in and control the elements to our liking down in and down out."
The Lions' defense is starting to earn a lot of respect as one of the better units in the NFL.
Detroit's defense ranks near the top of the league in total defense (fifth), scoring (10th), rushing (eighth), passing (eighth), third-down efficiency (34.4) and takeaways (fourth).
For the past few years, Detroit's offense has received a lot of the praise for Detroit's success, and for good reason, but it's the defense that's been the more consistent unit so far this season. They've elevated their play in 2025 in Sheppard's first season as coordinator.
"Well, I love where our defense is at right now," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said this week. "I think these guys are playing their tail off. I think there's a lot of versatility there. I think we challenge in all aspects, in all areas. And they're really playing strong right now and I love that."
Campbell said that he has a lot of trust in Sheppard and that side of the ball, and that allows him to continue to be aggressive offensively.
"So, that'll always give me faith in the fact that they're going to put out the fires," Campbell said. "And that's what you want, the defense that you know is going to put out the fires. So, I love it. It's great."
UNCHARACTERISTIC DROPS
Through 10 games this season, Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has more drops (5) than he had all of last season (4). St. Brown is as sure-handed a receiver as there is in this league, so when he does drop one it seems to stand out a little more. As did the fact that he and quarterback Jared Goff connected on just two of their 12 targets against the Eagles.
The two completions in 12 attempts were a one-off. The drops aren't something St. Brown is worried about moving forward, either. It should be noted he has dealt with a wrist injury on and off this season.
"You want to catch any ball that touches your hand whether it's one hand, tip of your hand, both hands, anything that touches my hand, I think I have to catch," St. Brown said Thursday. "Any ball that touches my hand I think I can catch.
"Drops happen to the best of us but I'm not worried about one drop or two drops. I've caught so many balls in my life that when the next one comes, I'm going to catch it and I'm going to catch a lot more than I don't. Like I said, happens to the best of us, but any ball that touches my hands, I feel like I can make and it's going to continue to go that way."
View photos from wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown's My Cause My Cleats shoe design competition with Shoe Club students.
East Jordan Shoe Club Founder Matt Hamilton speaks to students before a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Shoe Club students during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Brooklyn Adams of the St. Brown Foundation looks at a design with a student during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Shoe Club students work on their designs during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Shoe Club students work on their designs during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Shoe Club students work on their designs during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Shoe Club students work on their designs during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Shoe Club students work on their designs during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Shoe Club students work on their designs during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Shoe Club students work on their designs during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Shoe Club students work on their designs during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Shoe Club students work on their designs during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) greets students during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) greets students during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) meets with each design group during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) meets with each design group during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) meets with each design group during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) meets with each design group during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) meets with each design group during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Brooklyn Adams of the St. Brown Foundation and Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) review shoe designs submitted by students during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) announces the winning design during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) announces the winning design during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Students during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Students during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) announces the winning design during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) announces the winning design during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Students during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) takes a photo with students of the East Jordan Shoe Club during a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) signs a jersey for East Jordan Shoe Club Founder Matt Hamilton after a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Students of the East Jordan Shoe Club tour the practice field following a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Students of the East Jordan Shoe Club tour the practice field following a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Students of the East Jordan Shoe Club tour the practice field following a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Students of the East Jordan Shoe Club tour the practice field following a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Students of the East Jordan Shoe Club tour the practice field following a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
Students of the East Jordan Shoe Club tour the practice field following a shoe design competition event at the Meijer Performance Center on Sept. 27, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carl Jones II/Detroit Lions via AP)
FRAZIER CLOSING IN ON RETURN
Rookie offensive lineman Miles Frazier is nearing his return after being out since the offseason with a knee injury.
"He's gotten better every week," Campbell said. "Now I'd anticipate over these next two days of (Thursday) and Friday that he's going to look even better. So, like where he's going, looks like he's coming back from the injury nicely."
Now it's about getting Frazier reps with the hope he can push for playing time on gameday and potentially be a boost like Christian Mahogany was late last year after missing training camp and the early part of the season with an illness. Mahogany made a couple starts and played some key reps last year and parlayed that into a starting role in 2025.
"For where he's at, very much like (Christian) Mahogany last year - we talked about it," Campbell said. "Just trying to get him reps and at some point feel like this guy can do something, then maybe we give him a shot. If he's not ready, he's not ready. That's OK."
