Lions Still Have One Obvious Trade Deadline Need Despite MNF Domination

The bye week couldn't have come at a better time for the Detroit Lions. Desperately needing to get healthy, the Lions will benefit greatly from the additional week of rest. Yet, that didn't stop defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard's unit from completely dominating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football.

Despite the impressive performance throughout the game, the Lions' defense could still use reinforcements before the November 4 trade deadline.

The Lions' patchwork secondary put on a show and understandably received the most attention since Monday night. The backups and practice squad call-ups exceeded all expectations, making big plays and coming up with key takeaways.

The pass rush, however, has gone under the radar. The Lions were able to generate 40 pressures, five sacks, and three QB hits, per Pro Football Focus. Tyrus Wheat was a surprise breakout, recording two sacks in his eight defensive snaps, and Al-Quadin Muhammad continued to add to his impressive 2025 campaign with another sack.

Lions Should Consider Adding to Pass Rush Rotation in Trade Deadline

Yet, Detroit could certainly use more firepower in the defensive end rotation for the second half of the season. The Lions' pass rush has been making plays all season, getting 23 sacks so far, and forcing fumbles and interceptions. However, the unit lacks depth. Muhammad has been one of the brightest spots for the team, ranking only behind Aidan Hutchinson in most pass rush metrics.

After Hutchinson and Muhammad, there is a drop-off among Detroit's pass rushers. Tyler Lacy and Pat O'Connor are the next two edge defenders in terms of pass rush snaps for the season, and neither player has been particularly impactful.

Marcus Davenport continues to be sidelined with a chest injury, and even though his eventual return will certainly help, we have seen very little of him this season to know what level he's at. Josh Paschal could be a valuable depth piece, but he remains without a timeline for his return.

That is why adding another pass rusher into the mix would be very helpful for the Lions. Detroit's ability to find diamonds in the rough is impressive, but that is harder to do at EDGE.

Kelvin Sheppard and Dan Campbell can get the most out of any under-the-radar defender, but Super Bowl contenders need an elite pass rush rotation. As good as the Lions have been this season, they don't have enough to sustain any more injuries or underperformance from their pass rushers, creating a need for a trade before the deadline.

Detroit Lions Get Uplifting News Ahead of Week 9

The Detroit Lions already have reason to celebrate, a little bit, heading into their Week 9 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Detroit Lions are on a much-deserved bye week, and they’d be wise to use the time to rest and reflect on their promising start to the season. The week off will also give the team’s injured secondary time to rejuvenate, even though the Lions were still able to pull off a strong and definitive win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, October 19, 24-9, despite the injured secondary.

Even though the Lions have a week off, it’s not too early to start thinking about their next opponent, the Minnesota Vikings. It’s been an up-and-down season for the Viks, and the team is heading into their Week 8 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers with a 3-3 record. One of the biggest issues for the Vikings this season has been their quarterback position. After drafting Michigan product J.J. McCarthy in the 2024 NFL draft, McCarthy had to sit out the entire 2024-25 season due to injury. He returned this season but was injured again relatively quickly, so the team has been relying on Carson Wentz.

So, what are the chances McCarthy will be healthy enough to play against the Lions? The answer to that question will help determine the result of that game.

J.J. McCarthy’s Status Going Into Detroit Lions Game

According to the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell commented on Tuesday, October 21, that McCarthy, who’s dealing with an ankle injury, was put through an on-field workout but it’s there yet. So, he’s not expected to play in the team’s Thursday, October 23, game against the Los Angeles Chargers for Week 8.

But, O’Connell commented that if the Vikings were playing on Sunday instead of Thursday, McCarthy may be healthy enough to play, implying that he would be ready to go for the Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions.

So, is it good or bad news that McCarthy might be available to take on the Lions? Colby Colwell of Detroit Jock City thinks it’s good news. According to the NFL expert and analyst, it’s not just good news, it’s “great news,” based on McCarthy’s early showing on the field.

“For starters, McCarthy has two TDs, three interceptions, and a dismal 58.5% completion rate through two NFL appearances, so that has to give the Lions some confidence already,” he notes in the Wednesday, October 22 piece. “Detroit was missing four starters in the defensive backfield on Monday night and still held the Buccaneers offense to 58 total yards in the first half, and got some key contributions from players like cornerback Arthur Maulet, who had a breakout performance in the win with an interception.”

Carson Wentz vs. J.J. McCarthy to Take on the Detroit Lions

Wentz hasn’t had the most stellar season, though. According to the statistics from ESPN and Pro Football Reference, he’s clocked five touchdown and four interceptions with a completion percentage of 66.9% and passing yards of 1,072.

So, it’s a mixed bag when it comes to which quarterback will be better to take on the Lions. The most important matter, really, is that the Lions’ defense and secondary gets healthier, and then they’ll be unstoppable no matter who they’re up against.