A major injury in a contract year is never ideal, but that's what happened to Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes when he suffered a torn MCL and PCL in his right knee after being cut blocked in Week 3 last season against the Arizona Cardinals. He missed the rest of the season, and never appeared all that close to returning despite being back around the team.
The Lions showed their confidence in Barnes' return to health by signing him to a three-year, $25.5 million deal with $16 million guaranteed and a $6.32 million signing bonus before free agency started. He has become a key, versatile piece of the defense, filling the SAM linebacker role very capably while lining up all over the field before his injury shortened his 2024 season dramatically.
The Lions officially announced the signing of Barnes on Monday morning. He also spoke to reporters, as he becomes the fourth player from the first draft class of the Brad Holmes-Dan Campbell regime in 2021 to get a contract extension (joining Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Alim McNeill).
Derrick Barnes confirms he'll be ready for Lions' offseason program
“I’m good, physically I’m good,” Barnes said. “My knee is good. I’ll finally, after this free agency thing, I get to kinda take a deep breath out to Tampa and start training......I’m cleared. My knee feels good. I feel good. I get to come back and play for the best city in the world. Everything is great, and like I said, I learned a lot through that process. It made me become a better man, for sure.”
Barnes talked about "unfinished business" after an earlier than expected playoff exit as one of the reasons to come back to the Lions, along with a group of coaches and players he wants to continue to work with as he noted the promotion of Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator to replace Aaron Glenn. It's clear the organization views him as a core player as the Lions continue to prioritize rewarding their own.