Former Seahawks Draft Pick Emerges as Unexpected Star in Carolina
When the Seattle Seahawks decided not to re-sign offensive lineman Damien Lewis after the 2023 season, few anticipated the impact his departure would have. However, Lewis has since transformed into a pivotal figure for the Carolina Panthers, becoming one of the NFL's most surprising success stories of the 2025 season.
Drafted by the Seahawks in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Lewis quickly established himself as a reliable starter on Seattle's offensive line. Despite facing challenges with position changes and team transitions, he remained a consistent presence. In 2023, after the Seahawks selected guard Anthony Bradford, Lewis continued to start, but the team ultimately chose not to match the Panthers' four-year, $50 million offer.
Since joining Carolina, Lewis has been instrumental in the team's offensive resurgence. The Panthers have improved from a 2-15 record in 2023 to a 5-12 finish last season, and as of mid-2025, they boast a 4-3 record. Quarterback Bryce Young has shown significant progress, and running back Rico Dowdle ranks third in the league in rushing yards, averaging an impressive 5.5 yards per carry.
A key factor in this turnaround has been the stability provided by Lewis and fellow free-agent acquisition Robert Hunt on the interior offensive line. Under their protection, the Panthers' offensive line has drastically reduced its sack total from 65 in 2023 to just 26 in 2024. Despite facing multiple injuries this season, including to Hunt and starting center Austin Corbett, Lewis has remained a steadying force, earning a Pro Football Focus grade of 72.3, ranking him 13th among all guards.
Lewis's unexpected success in Carolina serves as a reminder of the importance of player development and the potential for growth when provided with the right opportunities. While the Seahawks have moved forward with their current roster, Lewis's journey underscores the unpredictable nature of player careers and the impact of organizational decisions.
As the Panthers continue their push for a playoff spot, Damien Lewis stands out as a testament to resilience and the unforeseen paths that can lead to success in the NFL.
Lions Lose Veteran Linebacker Immediately After He Returns From Injury
The Detroit Lions waited three weeks to get veteran linebacker Zach Cunningham back after a serious injury, but now he will be gone for at least a month — and potentially the entire season.
The team placed Cunningham on injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury in last week’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Cunningham had just returned from a three-week absence for another hamstring injury, and the latest development will put his season in doubt.
Lions Lose Key Depth
Cunningham had been knocked out of last weekend’s 24-9 win over the conference-leading Buccaneers, ruled out to return with a hamstring injury. As Jeff Risdon of USA Today’s Lions Wire noted, the injury will take a key special teams and situational defender from the roster.
“There is no indication if Cunningham, who plays primarily on special teams but has also worked in short-yardage and red zone packages throughout the season, will be able to return in 2025,” Risdon wrote. “The Lions facility is closed to and staff are off until next week. For the year, the 30-year-old has seven tackles and one TFL.”
Cunningham came to the Lions as a free agent this offseason, adding a veteran presence to the linebacking corps. The 30-year-old has appeared in 106 games with 86 starts in his career, making 716 total tackles.
He had a light role in Detroit this season, appearing in four games with seven total tackles.
Backups Come Through in the Secondary
The Lions have already taken a number of hits to their defense, especially in the secondary where the team has already lost several cornerbacks to injury and had safety Brian Branch serve a one-game suspension for sparking a skirmish at the end of the team’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The team utilized what head coach Dan Campbell called its “Who?” secondary against the Buccaneers, holding the dangerous offense to just nine points.
“I knew we were going to challenge them and do more than we did last week,” Campbell said, via The Associated Press. “But that’s a good quarterback over there, and they’ve been playing good football. I had confidence, but nine points?”
The Lions relied heavily on reserves Rock Ya-Sin, Nick Whiteside, Arthur Maulet, Erick Hallett, and Thomas Harper against the Buccaneers. NFL.com reporter Kevin Patra noted that the collection of backups played “with their hair on fire” against the Buccaneers, taking an aggressive approach that left quarterback Baker Mayfield befuddled.
Campbell said he called on the group to take on an aggressive approach and they delivered, not getting overcome by the challenge of facing one of the NFL’s top teams in primetime.
“That’s what’s expected here,” Campbell said. “I’ve said it before, you get in there, you don’t have to be perfect, you just challenge and you compete, and we will help you and the guys around you will help you.
“I love the fact the game didn’t seem too big for those guys. That was Harper’s and Hallett’s first start. I thought it wasn’t too big for them. They got in there and competed and that’s a great sign.”
