The Detroit Lions saw one of their key defensive players suffer a significant injury in the Week 11 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars after linebacker Alex Anzalone left the game early.
Following the 52-6 win over the Jags, head coach Dan Campbell revealed that Anzalone suffered a broken forearm, which will sideline him six to eight weeks. Bear in mind, the Lions are also without Derrick Barnes and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, both of whom are on injured reserve, which leaves the team very shorthanded.
The good news is, Anzalone should be back by the time the playoffs roll around, as the Lions still have seven games left and could earn themselves a first-round bye to give him extra time.
But the Lions have to fill the void in the meantime. They'll likely deploy Malcolm Rodriguez mostly in that spot alongside Jack Campbell. Detroit has Ben Niemann, Trevor Nowaske and Ezekiel Turner on the roster, also, but they aren't exactly great options.
If the Lions are looking to add more help, there is a solid option currently available in free agency in former Miami Dolphins linebacker, David Long, who was waived by the team in the final year of a two-year, $11 million contract he signed in 2023 free agency. Long has since cleared waivers, making him available to sign.
After signing with the Dolphins, Long started all 17 games last season and six of eight games in 2024 before he fell out of favor. Kyle Crabbs of the Locked on Dolphins Podcast explained what led to Long's departure.
"David Long's journey this year started with a tweaked hamstring in Seattle, a missed game vs. Tennessee and a lost starting job thanks to startling regression fitting the run," Crabbs explained.
"After Tyrel Dodson claim, not sure I'm surprised this was the end. With some players coming back, there was a shuffle that was inevitable and Dodson plus Anthony Walker playing well made it difficult to see him playing again this year."
Long was a sixth-round pick of the Titans in 2019 and he developed into a starter during his stint in Nashville, with the West Virginia product particularly shining against the run and in the pass-rush with his aggressive, hair-on-fire style.
Long doesn't offer much in coverage, but he boasts impressive speed that makes him a strong sideline-to-sideline defender and brings a ton of energy.
Perhaps a change of scenery to a winning team with a great culture would do Long some good. He at least has the potential to be a better option than most of the guys currently on Detroit's roster, so general manager Brad Holmes should definitely take a flyer on him.
