By Moses Joshua 
How injuries forced Detroit’s linebackers to step up amid adversity
Linebackers Face Tough Season Amid Key Injuries
The Detroit Lions’ 2024 season ended in heartbreaking fashion, but with reflection comes an opportunity to analyze what went right—and what went wrong. Among the biggest challenges Detroit faced was maintaining stability in their linebacker unit, which endured a relentless wave of injuries.
What was once a deep and talented position group quickly turned into a game of survival. Starters Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes were both sidelined for significant portions of the season, forcing younger players and late-season acquisitions to take on major roles. The result? A mix of resilience, inconsistency, and hard-fought lessons that will shape Detroit’s approach moving forward.
Jack Campbell Steps Up as Injuries Pile Up
When the season began, the Lions’ linebacker corps appeared to be one of the strongest units on the team. With Anzalone leading the way, Barnes building on a promising 2023 campaign, and Jack Campbell continuing to develop, the group looked set for success.
However, that optimism was quickly tested.
- Derrick Barnes suffered a season-ending knee injury just three games in, stripping Detroit of one of its most versatile defenders. His ability to drop into coverage, rush the passer, and occasionally line up as an edge rusher left a significant void.
- Malcolm Rodriguez, a rising talent, stepped in to help fill the gap, only to suffer a torn ACL in a Week 13 victory over the Chicago Bears.
- Alex Anzalone, the veteran leader of the group, was having a strong season before breaking his forearm in Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. His absence left Detroit without its top coverage linebacker and a key communicator in the defense.
With so many injuries, the Lions were forced to rely on Campbell, who became the lone constant in the linebacker room. He played all 17 games and led the team with 131 combined tackles, showing both durability and growth in his second NFL season.
Emergency Reinforcements and Defensive Adjustments
The Lions’ coaching staff, led by then-linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard (now defensive coordinator), had to get creative. The team signed David Long Jr. and Zeke Turner off the street, poached Anthony Pittman and Kwon Alexander from practice squads, and relied on rotational players like Jalen Reeves-Maybin—who himself missed seven games due to injury.
Despite the adversity, Detroit’s run defense remained among the top five in the NFL, allowing just 98.4 rushing yards per game. This success was a testament to the team’s depth, adaptability, and defensive scheme.
However, as head coach Dan Campbell admitted, even a well-stocked roster can be stretched thin when injuries hit every level of the defense:
“When you come away, in hindsight, looking at this after what just happened, you’re like, ‘Man, can we ever have enough defensive depth? Is that possible?’” Campbell said after Detroit’s playoff loss to Washington.
For the Lions, 2024 was a year of perseverance, and the experience gained by young players like Campbell and Turner will be invaluable moving forward. But as the offseason begins, reinforcing the linebacker group will be a top priority.
With Anzalone expected to return healthy and the possibility of adding reinforcements in free agency or the draft, Detroit’s linebacker unit has the potential to be even stronger in 2025—assuming they can stay on the field.