Dec 28, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers linebacker D.J. Wonnum (98) reacts after a sack in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Lions add edge rusher D.J. Wonnum

The Detroit Lions signed free-agent edge rusher D.J. Wonnum, the team announced Wednesday.

Wonnum, 28, is signing a one-year deal worth up to $6 million, according to multiple reports. The team did not announce terms.

He started 15 of the 16 regular-season games he played in last season for the Carolina Panthers, totaling 42 tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, one interception and one fumble recovery. He also started and made give tackles in the Panthers’ playoff game, a 34-31 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC wild-card round.

Wonnum has 250 career tackles, 30 sacks, 32 tackles for loss, 59 QB hits, one interception, 15 passes defended, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries — including one returned for a touchdown — in 86 regular-season games (54 starts) for the Minnesota Vikings (2020-23) and Panthers.

Minnesota selected Wonnum in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of South Carolina.

–Field Level Media

Oct 27, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) reacts after a play against the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter of the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Report: Lions signing ex-Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco

The Detroit Lions are signing former Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.

Pacheco, 27, gives the Lions a new backfield partner for Jahmyr Gibbs after they traded David Montgomery to the Houston Texans earlier this month.

Pacheco won two Super Bowl rings in four seasons with the Chiefs, who agreed to a three-year deal on Monday with former Seattle Seahawks running back and Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III.

A seventh-round pick (251st overall) in 2022, Pacheco rushed for 2,537 yards and 14 touchdowns and caught 88 passes for 554 yards and three scores in 51 games (42 starts) with Kansas City. He added 689 scrimmage yards and four TDs in 10 postseason games.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) celebrates a first down against Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025.

Lions selected to play in Munich in 2026

The Detroit Lions will play a regular season game in 2026 in Munich, Germany, the NFL announced on Tuesday.

The Lions’ opponent and date will be announced when the full schedule is revealed in the spring.

The Munich game is one of a record nine international contests taking place across four continents next season.

Allianz Arena, the 70,000-seat home of Bundesliga powerhouse FC Bayern Munich, is the site of the game. The stadium will also host a game in 2028, with the NFL playing games in Berlin in 2027 and 2029.

“Germany continues to be a key market in the NFL’s international growth ambitions, with Europe’s largest fanbase,” said NFL Germany general manager Alexander Steinforth. “We are excited to welcome the Detroit Lions to play in the 2026 NFL Munich game — and in partnership with the Lions, FC Bayern Munich and the City of Munich, we look forward to bringing an incredible NFL experience to fans across the region in the NFL 2026 season.”

The Lions have marketing rights in Germany, Austria and Switzerland as part of the league’s global markets program.

“We are thrilled to be playing internationally and specifically in Munich for the 2026 season,” said Lions president and CEO Rod Wood. “As an organization, we have invested greatly in the German market and are excited to play in front of our passionate German fans.”

Playing in Germany holds special significance for Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown.

“It has been a dream of mine to play a game in my mother’s home country of Germany since coming to the league,” the two-time All-Pro receiver said. “I cannot wait to play in front of the incredible fans that I’ve gotten to know through my visits and football camps in the country. Their support for me and the country’s instant connection to the Lions brand is inspiring, and I’m looking forward to our team getting to showcase Detroit football on an international scale.”

The Lions’ two previous international games were played in London in 2014 and 2015.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Lions hire ex-Giants interim coach Mike Kafka

Former interim New York Giants head coach Mike Kafka has agreed to join the Detroit Lions’ staff, according to multiple reports.

Kafka, 38, served as the Giants’ offensive coordinator for three-and-a-half seasons before assuming the head-coaching reins after Brian Daboll’s firing on Nov. 10. The Giants fashioned a 2-5 record during his tenure and averaged 23.1 points per game.

Kafka was interviewed to become the full-time head coach, but the Giants hired longtime Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. Kafka also interviewed to replace the fired Johnny Morton as the Lions’ offensive coordinator, but Detroit hired ex-Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.

Kafka’s title with the Lions has not been specified, but he is expected to fulfill a “high-ranking” offensive staff role.

The Lions fired Morton despite ranking fourth in the NFL in points (481) and fifth in total yards (6,344). Both of those numbers fell short of the standard set in 2024 by Ben Johnson, who parlayed Detroit’s 564 points (first) and 6,962 yards (second) into the Chicago Bears’ head-coaching job.

–Field Level Media

Lions fire OC John Morton after one season

John Morton, who was relieved of his play-calling duties eight games into his first season as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator, was fired on Tuesday.

The Lions announced they had “parted ways” with Morton, 56, after finishing 9-8 and missing the playoffs in a season with championship expectations.

Morton replaced Ben Johnson, who left to be the Chicago Bears’ head coach after guiding the Lions to spectacular offensive numbers in 2024.

Under Johnson, Detroit boasted the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense (33.2 points per game) and finished second in total offense (409.5 yards per game) in 2024. Detroit’s points (564) and regular-season wins (15) that year were franchise records.

Head coach Dan Campbell took over as offensive play-caller for the Lions this season after a 27-24 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 2 dropped the team to 5-3. Detroit beat the host Washington Commanders 44-22 on Nov. 9.

At the end of the 2025 regular season, the Lions ranked fifth in the league in total offense (373.2 yards per game), third in passing (253.1) and 14th in rushing (120.1). Detroit was tied for fourth with the Buffalo Bills at 28.3 points per game.

Morton returned to the organization after a two-year stint as the pass game coordinator in Denver, where in 2024 the Broncos finished 20th in the NFL in pass offense (212.4) and averaged 25.0 points per game.

He spent the 2022 season with the Lions as a senior offensive assistant before joining the Broncos in 2023. The Michigan native previously worked with Detroit quarterback Jared Goff during Johnson’s first season as offensive coordinator.

–Field Level Media

Vikings win fourth straight, knock Lions out of playoff race

Jordan Addison broke free for a 65-yard rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter, and the Minnesota Vikings pulled away for a 23-10 win over the eliminated Detroit Lions on Thursday afternoon in Minneapolis.

Aaron Jones Sr. also rushed for a touchdown for Minnesota (8-8), which won its fourth game in a row. Max Brosmer completed 9 of 16 passes for 51 yards in place of No. 1 quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who missed the game because of a hairline fracture in his right hand.

Jared Goff completed 18 of 29 passes for 197 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Detroit (8-8). The loss removed the Lions from playoff contention and secured a postseason berth for the Green Bay Packers.

Lions players watched despondently from the sideline as the final minutes ticked down. Detroit reached the NFC Championship Game two seasons ago and lost in the divisional round as the No. 1 seed last season, and it was considered a championship contender this season before encountering a bevy of injuries and narrow losses.

Addison gave the Vikings a double-digit lead with 3:43 remaining. He took a handoff and outraced the Lions’ secondary down the sideline before diving over the front right pylon for the touchdown.

Will Reichard made a 42-yard field goal to finish the scoring for Minnesota with 1:04 left.

The Vikings got on the board first with 1:35 remaining in the first quarter. On third-and-goal from the 1, Jones barreled into the end zone to steer Minnesota to a 7-0 lead.

Detroit pulled even at 7-all with 1:05 to go before halftime. Goff fired a high pass for wideout Isaac TeSlaa, who made a leaping grab and held on to the ball as he crashed to the turf.

Minnesota regained a 10-7 lead when Reichard drilled a 52-yard field goal with 3:03 left in the third quarter.

Reichard struck again, this time from 56 yards, to increase the Vikings’ lead to 13-7 with 1:57 to go in the third. An interception by Minnesota safety Harrison Smith set up the scoring opportunity.

The Lions pulled within 13-10 on a 48-yard field goal by Jake Bates with 4:39 remaining.

–Field Level Media

Lions’ fleeting playoff hopes on the line Christmas Day vs. Vikings

The Detroit Lions are down but not out.

Not yet, at least.

The Lions (8-7) try to keep their dim playoff hopes alive when they take on the Minnesota Vikings (7-8) in a Christmas Day matchup on Thursday afternoon in Minneapolis.

Detroit comes off a crushing 29-24 loss Sunday at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The defeat dealt a significant blow to the Lions, whose only path to the postseason is by winning their last two games while the Green Bay Packers lose their last two.

The Lions’ remaining games are against the Vikings and Chicago Bears. The Packers’ remaining games are against the Baltimore Ravens and the Vikings.

Detroit coach Dan Campbell said the only thing his players can do is move forward.

“We’ve got three days here of practice for these guys to get the mental work, to recover, make sure they get rest when they leave here and get back to work,” Campbell said. “Nobody’s going to feel sorry for us. Nobody cares. We’ve got a game plan ready for them, they’ve got to go out there and digest it as fast as they can and be ready to go, man — emotionally, psychologically, physically, by the time Thursday hits.”

Detroit will take on an injury-riddled Vikings squad that has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Quarterback Max Brosmer, an undrafted rookie who played his home games just across the Mississippi River last season for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, will make his second start for the Vikings. Brosmer will start in place of J.J. McCarthy, who sustained a hairline fracture in his right hand during Sunday’s win over the New York Giants.

Brosmer has completed 31 of 47 passes for 220 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions in five games (one start) this season.

Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson said he enjoys playing with Brosmer.

“He has fun going out there,” Jefferson said. “I don’t sense him being nervous or not ready for the moment. Him going out there, ‘You all ready, guys?’ He just has that smile on his face and he’s ready to go.”

Jefferson has 72 catches for 917 yards this season. He needs 83 receiving yards to reach the 1,000-yard milestone for the sixth consecutive season. The six-year veteran entered the year with 40 touchdown catches in 77 regular-season games, but is nowhere close to that this year with two touchdowns in 15 games.

In addition to missing McCarthy, the Vikings will not have starting center Ryan Kelly. He left Sunday’s game to be evaluated for a concussion. Running back Jordan Mason left the game because of an ankle injury, and his status is uncertain for Thursday.

The Lions are dealing with multiple injuries as well. Standout wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was a limited participant in practice Tuesday because of a knee injury while running back David Montgomery missed Tuesday’s practice due to an illness. Others on the initial injury report included defensive back Avonte Maddox, who did not practice because of a back injury, and offensive tackle Taylor Decker, who was limited because of a shoulder injury.

Lions quarterback Jared Goff has passed for 4,036 yards and 32 touchdowns with just five interceptions this season. Detroit already has a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in St. Brown (98 catches, 1,194 yards, 11 TDs) and Jameson Williams (57 catches, 1,006 yards, seven TDs).

When the teams played Nov. 2 in Detroit, the Vikings emerged with a 27-24 win with McCarthy at the controls. Goff threw for 284 yards and two scores, but he also took five sacks.

–Field Level Media

NFL looks into alleged history; fan denies sparking Metcalf strike with slur

A fan with a reported history of inciting reactions from DK Metcalf at Ford Field denied through an attorney he used a racial slur that prompted the Pittsburgh Steelers receiver to grab and rip his shirt during Sunday’s game in Detroit.

The NFL is investigating what prompted Metcalf to walk from the Steelers’ bench to the raised seating area and grab Ryan Kennedy before appearing to take a swipe at the fan, who denied through Head Murphy Law Firm on Monday that he used inflammatory language or racial slurs.

“These allegations are completely false,” according to Sean Head and Sean Murphy of Head Murphy Law Firm, who issued a statement Monday.

Multiple outlets reported there is an alleged history with Metcalf and Kennedy, who played at Ford Field while with the Seahawks in 2022, 2023 and 2024. NFL Network and ESPN cited sources in noting Metcalf turned Kennedy in to Seattle’s team security in the past.

But a video from a fan seated to Kennedy’s left facing the field seems to corroborate parts of the fan’s account of the incident, claiming in an interview with the Free Press that he baited the receiver by calling him by his legal name — DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf — and not the racial slurs others claimed to hear.

Lions security did not remove Kennedy from the game.

“Ryan Kennedy categorically denies using the ‘N-word,’ the ‘C-word,’ or any racial, misogynistic, or hate-based slur,” Head Murphy’s statement said.

Former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson said on the “Nightcap” podcast on Sunday night that he was told a combination of racial or inflammatory terms caused Metcalf to react.

“I got word — obviously, I’m not condoning putting your hands on a fan or punching a fan — but he did call him a racial slur,” Johnson said. “He called him the N-word and he did call his mom a c–t. I think, with those words being exchanged and the fan saying that, I think that’s where the action occurred. That’s a bad combination … and it caused DK to react. I’m sure he will have to deal with some type of discipline. You know how the NFL is. No matter what’s said, they want you to be able to control yourself in that situation, but I understand.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) makes a touchdown catch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images

Jahmyr Gibbs tops 200 total yards as Lions club Buccaneers

Jahmyr Gibbs piled up 218 total yards and two touchdowns, including a 78-yard scoring run, as the host Detroit Lions downed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-9, on Monday night.

Gibbs rushed for 136 yards on 17 carries and caught three passes for 82 yards. Jared Goff passed for 241 yards and a touchdown, while Amon-Ra St. Brown caught six passes for 86 yards and a touchdown for the Lions (5-2).

Baker Mayfield passed for 228 yards and a touchdown for the Buccaneers (5-2). Cade Otton caught seven passes for 65 yards.

Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans suffered a concussion and shoulder injury during the first half and did not return.

The Lions grabbed a 14-3 halftime lead.

Detroit wasted little time establishing control, as it scored on the opening possession. A 27-yard pass from Goff to St. Brown completed the 69-yard drive.

That was the only scoring during the opening quarter. Gibbs ended the drought with 5:51 remaining in the half when he burst through a hole and raced down the right sideline on his 78-yard run.

There was plenty of activity late in the half. Detroit’s Jake Bates missed a field goal attempt and both quarterbacks traded interceptions. The latter, Jamel Dean’s pickoff of a Goff attempt, set up Chase McLaughlin’s 53-yard field goal to end the half.

The Bucs pulled within five points with an 11-play, 67-yard drive to open the second half. Tez Johnson’s 22-yard reception finished off the drive, but Mayfield’s 2-point conversion pass failed, leaving the score at 14-9.

Gibbs sparked the next Detroit scoring drive. He had a 15-yard run and a 28-yard reception before scoring on a 5-yard run with 4:39 remaining in the third quarter.

The Bucs came up short on fourth down in their own territory early in the fourth and the Lions cashed in on Bates’ 58-yard field goal to make it 24-9.

Tampa Bay turned the ball over on downs with 4:24 remaining after driving inside the Detroit 20.

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (not pictured) and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster (9) get into a fight after the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Lions S Brian Branch, Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster scuffle after game

Detroit safety Brian Branch struck Kansas City wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster with an open-handed blow to the face, setting off a scrum after the end of the host Chiefs’ 30-17 victory on Sunday night.

The game had concluded when Branch ignored Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes attempt to high-five him as the Lions player walked past near midfield. Smith-Schuster was nearby and went up to him, but apparently after a few words, Branch hit him in his facemask, causing him to tumble to the ground.

Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco tried to separate the pair after Smith-Schuster got up and ran after Branch, only for the Chiefs receiver to get his helmet taken off and Branch to get him on the turf again as players from both sides converged on the fight.

Branch later apologized for the skirmish and explained his reasoning for being upset with Smith-Schuster.

“I did a real childish thing,” Branch, 23, told reporters. “I’m tired of people doing stuff in between plays and refs don’t catch it. They be trying to bully me out there. I shouldn’t have did it, it was childish.”

He cited a specific play late in the fourth quarter when Smith-Schuster hit him in the back away from the play.

“I got blocked in the back illegally,” Branch said, “and it was in front of the ref and the ref didn’t do anything. It’s just stuff like that. I could’ve gotten hurt off of that, but I still shouldn’t have done (the postgame fight), though.”

Smith-Schuster called Branch a great player who is important to the Lions. He was expecting a handshake and a “good game,” he said.

“But he threw a punch,” said Smith-Schuster, 28, who thought Branch was frustrated during the game by “me just blocking him.”

“I’m just doing my job,” Smith-Schuster continued. “I play between the whistles.”

Mahomes touched on that theme earlier when he was interviewed after the game on the NBC broadcast.

“I mean, we play the game in between the whistles,” Mahomes said. “They can do all the extracurricular stuff they want to do, but we play in between the whistles.”

Kansas City coach Andy Reid said Branch hit Smith-Schuster “for what looked like no reason,” and noted his receiver got his nose bloodied. “That’s tough and he did pretty good damage on JuJu’s nose.”

Detroit coach Dan Campbell said Branch was in the wrong.

“I love Brian Branch, but what he did is inexcusable and it’s not going to be accepted here,” Campbell said. “It’s not what we do, it’s not what we’re about. I apologized to coach Reid and the Chiefs and Smith-Schuster. That’s not OK. That’s not what we do here, and it’s not gonna be OK. He knows it, our team knows it. That’s not what we do.”

Branch, a second-round draft selection in 2023 and a Pro Bowl pick in 2024, has been fined by the league a total of $34,784 this season for an unsportsmanlike conduct infraction in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers and two unnecessary roughness violations: taunting the Packers and for a low block in Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens, NFL.com reported.

Smith-Schuster, a second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017, has played for the Steelers (2017-21), Kansas City Chiefs (2022, 2024-present), and New England Patriots (2023). He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2018.

–Field Level Media