The Detroit Lions need plenty of defensive help, and Aaron Glenn has declared some reinforcements up front are indeed coming this week.
It’s not breaking news, but the Detroit Lions can use and will take all the help on the defensive side of the ball it can get. The bye week was a helpful reset for coordinator Aaron Glenn, and during his press conference on Thursday he said (however obviously) that he feels good about the adjustments that were made.
Of course having more healthy personnel would be especially helpful to the Lions’ defense improving. Glenn specifically declared some help up front is on the way.
"We’ll get some guys back, (John) Cominsky will be back, (Josh) Paschal will be ready,” Glenn said. “Being able to use Aidan (Hutchinson) in other spots, allowing him to have some freedom to do some things also."
Cominsky has missed the last three games with a wrist injury he suffered in Week 2, and subsequent surgery. After the bye week always seemed like his return date since he was not placed on IR, which would have cost him at least four games. The team leader in quarterback pressures (10) will be back Sunday against the Cowboys.
Paschal was the Lions’ second-round pick in April. He had hernia surgery in May, as the injury lingered from the end of last season at Kentucky. He is a versatile piece for a defensive line that can use one, and his NFL debut is in the offing Sunday.
Paschal is on the PUP list, so the Lions will have to make a roster move to activate him.
Aaron Glenn’s defense will need as many hands on deck as possible vs. the Cowboys
The Cowboys will welcome quarterback Dak Prescott back on Sunday. The league’s worst run defense will be challenged by the “Thunder and Lightning” duo of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, and CeeDee Lamb is a legit top-tier wide receiver.
If Cominsky and Paschal can offer something as pass rushers and disruptors in the run game, the Lions’ defense could be more effective than expected on Sunday.