When Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes was injured during the team’s Week 3 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, it was uncertain how long he would be sidelined. Even after the Lions placed Barnes on injured reserve last week, there was a glimmer of hope that he could return in a month or two.
Unfortunately, that optimism seems to have faded. In his Monday press conference, head coach Dan Campbell delivered the unfortunate update on Barnes.
“I think we would be fortunate to get him back at any point this year,” Campbell stated. “I don’t want to say it’s impossible, but we would be pretty lucky if it happens.”
Barnes sustained a lower-body injury after taking a low cut block from Cardinals tight end Trey McBride.
This is a significant setback for the Lions, as Barnes was the starting SAM linebacker, playing multiple crucial roles on the defense. He contributed as a pass rusher, edge setter in the run game, and was capable of dropping into coverage. The coaching staff had been impressed with Barnes’s progress since he joined the team in 2021 as a fourth-round pick.
“Barnes has dedicated his time—both in the offseason and during the season—he’s fully committed,” said linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard after Week 1. “This job means everything to him. Outside of his family, I know this is his sole focus.”
Here's the play where Lions LB Derrick Barnes gets hit low and exits the game with a knee injury. Pretty unfortunate. #OnePride pic.twitter.com/Ul4w5IU23h
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) September 24, 2024
“He’s playing five positions during games—not just in practice or in a backup role. He’s executing five live positions in the game without hesitation. For a player to have come so far since 2021, I really credit him. His trajectory is definitely on the rise.”
This injury is particularly unfortunate for Barnes, who was just beginning to find his stride. Now, he faces the prospect of entering free agency in 2025. While the coaching staff values his development, Detroit has several players—such as Alim McNeill, Aidan Hutchinson, Levi Onwuzurike, Carlton Davis, and Kerby Joseph—who may receive contract extensions ahead of him.
