The Detroit Lions started off the season strong, contending with one of the best teams in the league in the Eagles and dominating the Commanders. Although the defense was far from great, they looked better than expected (and better than the scoreboard would indicate), in large part thanks to the defensive line. They were dominant through the first two weeks and that helped mask the many deficiencies of this team’s secondary.
Then the injury bug struck, as it always does. Aidan Hutchinson suffered a thigh injury that left him looking like a shell of his dominant Week 2 performance, and John Cominsky suffered a wrist injury against the Commanders that has sidelined him since.