Lions HC Delivers Grim News on Veteran Defensive End

The Detroit Lions have likely lost a key member of their defensive line for the rest of the season.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on September 23 that the seven-year NFL veteran Marcus Davenport was hurt in the team’s win over the Arizona Cardinals.

“Tests today confirmed that Lions starting DE Marcus Davenport suffered a season-ending torn triceps during Sunday’s win over the Cardinals, per sources,” Schefter wrote in a post on X.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell told reporters on Monday that Davenport will likely miss the rest of the season, but that would not be confirmed until he seeks additional opinions. Davenport was hurt in the third quarter of the team’s 20-13 win but was able to finish the game with a sleeve on his left arm.

Marcus Davenport Was Key Offseason Addition

As ESPN reported, the Lions brought on the 28-year-old Davenport this offseason to provide depth to their defensive line but he struggled with injuries. Davenport played in the season opener, then was sidelined in Week 2 with a groin injury.

“Injuries have been a common theme in Davenport’s career since he entered the NFL as a first-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2018,” the ESPN report noted. “Injuries limited him to 63 appearances in five seasons with the Saints, and last season, with the Minnesota Vikings, he appeared in just four games due to a right ankle injury.”

Davenport has started 36 games over the course of his seven-year NFL career, making a total of 151 tackles with 24.0 sacks.

Lions Hit With Other Injuries

Davenport was not the only member of the Lions’ defense hurt in Sunday’s win. Derrick Barnes was also carted off in the first half after suffering a knee injury, while defensive tackle Alim McNeill and safety Brian Branch were also forced to leave the game.

Campbell was more hopeful about the injuries to Barnes and McNeill, saying after the game that neither appeared to be season-ending.

“I can’t say they’re not going to be long-term, but I don’t feel like it’s something like we’re worried about season-ending,” Campbell said, via the Detroit Free Press. “But we’ll know a lot more (Monday) on those things, when we’re able to get home and check it out.”

Branch suffered a scary injury, going down after a helmet-to-helmet hit with Cardinals tight end Trey McBride. Both players lowered their helmets in anticipation of a hit and were sent to the turf, with Branch laying motionless for a few moments. He was eventually helped off the field by the team’s medical staff and taken to the locker room for evaluation.

Trey McBride #cardinals and Brian Branch #lions

Violent head collision. Both will be evaluated for concussions. Let’s hope they are okay pic.twitter.com/3TG0sxc3dV
— Tom Christ, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT (@FantasyInjuryT) September 22, 2024

As Quarter4 noted, Branch was playing well before suffering the injury in the fourth quarter.

“The safety was having a strong game before exiting, recording nine tackles (six solo), including one for a loss, and two passes defensed,” the analysis noted. “Branch also helped Detroit limit a high-flying Arizona offense to just 13 points and less than 300 yards of offense late into the fourth quarter. Brandon Joseph and Loren Strickland are Detroit’s extra safeties on the active roster Sunday.”