By Sunday 
Detroit’s linebacker corps faced relentless setbacks, testing the team’s depth and resilience.
The Detroit Lions endured a season filled with adversity, particularly at the linebacker position. Once considered one of the team’s deepest units, injuries forced a constant reshuffling of personnel. As the season progressed, Detroit’s defensive strategy had to adapt to a rotating cast of players, testing both the coaching staff and the team’s resilience.
Unforeseen Depth Challenges
Detroit began the season with a solid core at linebacker, anchored by Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, and Trevor Nowaske. However, injuries quickly changed the landscape of the defense.
Jack Campbell remained the only consistent presence, starting all 17 games and leading the team with 131 combined tackles. As his role expanded on defense, his special teams involvement significantly decreased. Meanwhile, Alex Anzalone missed seven games, including six with a broken forearm, yet still ranked second on the team with seven tackles for loss.
Despite the injuries, the Lions’ run defense remained among the league’s top five, allowing just 98.4 rushing yards per game. Credit for this stability goes to linebackers coach—now defensive coordinator—Kelvin Sheppard, who managed to keep the unit competitive despite the constant personnel changes.
Major Injuries Reshape the Unit
The linebacker corps took an early hit when Derrick Barnes, coming off a strong third season, suffered a season-ending knee injury just three games into the year. His ability to drop into coverage, rush the passer, and even contribute as an edge rusher left a significant void.
With Barnes sidelined, Malcolm Rodriguez stepped up. After starting 15 games as a rookie in 2022, Rodriguez entered 2024 as the fourth linebacker on the depth chart. However, his season took an unfortunate turn when he tore his ACL in Week 13 against the Chicago Bears, adding another blow to an already depleted unit.
Anzalone, the team’s leading tackler from the previous season, was having another productive year before a fractured forearm sidelined him for six games. He returned just in time for the regular season finale against the Minnesota Vikings, contributing seven tackles and a pass deflection in a game that secured Detroit’s NFC North title and the No. 1 seed in the conference.
Adding to the challenges, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, a key special teams contributor, missed seven games due to an upper-body injury. His absence was felt both in coverage and as a rotational linebacker.
Emergency Reinforcements Step Up
As injuries mounted, the Lions were forced to bring in reinforcements. The team signed David Long Jr. and Zeke Turner off the street while adding Anthony Pittman and Kwon Alexander from practice squads.
“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?'” head coach Dan Campbell reflected after Detroit’s playoff loss to the Washington Commanders.
“You don’t think about losing ones and twos in nearly every group. But you only have 53 spots. We’re going to look at everything, but this was one of those bizarre, freakish years.”
Despite the revolving door of personnel, some players managed to make an impact. Zeke Turner, signed in November and promoted to the active roster by Week 10, appeared in nine games, recording 12 tackles and three quarterback hits. He became an important rotational player on defense and a key contributor on special teams, earning praise from Campbell and special teams coordinator Dave Fipp.
Jack Campbell’s Growth Amid Chaos
One silver lining of the Lions’ linebacker struggles was the development of second-year linebacker Jack Campbell. While his pass coverage remained a work in progress—allowing 35 completions on 45 targets for 436 yards—he showed improvement in other areas. His missed tackles decreased, and he doubled his quarterback pressures from the previous season, finishing with eight.
The experience of taking on an expanded role, especially during Anzalone’s absence, will likely benefit Campbell’s growth heading into 2025. With a more stable supporting cast next season, he could emerge as an even more dominant force in Detroit’s defensive scheme.
Looking Ahead
Detroit’s linebacker group endured one of the toughest seasons imaginable, with injuries forcing constant adjustments. Despite the setbacks, the team’s ability to remain competitive speaks to the coaching staff’s adaptability and the depth of talent within the organization.
Heading into next season, the Lions will need to evaluate their defensive depth to ensure they are better prepared for future challenges. But if this season proved anything, it’s that Detroit’s defense has the resilience to withstand even the most unpredictable adversity.