Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes is likely out for the season after suffering a knee injury in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals. But was back in Allen Park on Wednesday to continue his rehab after doing physical therapy with his old college trainers at Purdue, and spoke to reporters for the first time since his injury and subsequent surgery.
Barnes revealed he torn the MCL and PCL in his right knee, but the ACL was intact.
ACL was fine, so recovery obviously is shorter now than it would've been," Barnes said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "Thank God I woke up and he said he didn't have to do anything with the ACL."
Derrick Barnes was in the locker room today for the first time since he underwent knee surgery. He told me he suffered MCL and PCL injuries but the ACL was intact. He's not ruling out a return this season, but sounded realistic about him slim chance to return.
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) November 13, 2024
Barnes also revealed a notable step his rehab process.
"I didn't know I was going to be able to ride the bike today," Barnes said. "Got on the bike, a little bit of walking inside the water, which was good for me. And my leg’s been super stiff and today is the first day I felt kind of normal and it's been pretty well."
Derrick Barnes wants play that injured him taken out of the game
Barnes was injured when Cardinals tight end Tip Reiman went low for a cut block and hit him directly on his right knee.
Here's the play where Lions LB Derrick Barnes gets hit low and exits the game with a knee injury. Pretty unfortunate. #OnePride pic.twitter.com/Ul4w5IU23h
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) September 24, 2024
Derrick Barnes R knee injury video
— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) September 25, 2024
-Direct impact to knee, fortunately foot not planted
-Looks like lateral side hit which could cause MCL sprain.
-Placed on IR. If non-severe MCL, could be back in 4-6wks. pic.twitter.com/WKYGHwaKbM
As for that play, Barnes thinks those kind of blocks should be taken out of the game.
"Me personally, I think that it should be banned," Barnes said, via SI.com. "I think the offense gets a lot of leeway, more than the defense. It's football. I've never been someone that complains about the hits or nothing, because I do the hitting. And then when I get hit, something like this happens. I don't really agree with the play, but it is football, it does happen. I would never wish that upon nobody."
There is a rule that bans blocks below the waist if they occur two yards outside the tackle box or more than five yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Blocks like Reiman's are common, and it occurred well within the legal area by the letter of the rule. It was just unfortunate Barnes suffered a significant injury when it happened to him.
Barnes is in the final year of his contract and seemed headed for a nice pay day before his injury. He acknowledged "it was a worry of mine"", but ultimately it seems he's not sweating his next contract too much.
"I'm a God-fearing man and I believe in the Lord and the things he’s got for me."