Lions' push for a youth movement might not fix their biggest flaw

The Detroit sports world stood still on Thursday morning, learning the news that Detroit Pistons star and MVP candidate Cade Cunningham would miss at least two weeks due to a collapsed lung. Depending on how recovery goes, the time Cunningham misses could extend into the playoffs.

It's a scenario all too familiar to Detroit Lions fans after watching the past two seasons derailed by the injury bug. Similar to the 2024 Lions, the Pistons sit atop their conference in the midst of one of their best regular seasons ever.

The Lions' issues these past two seasons did extend beyond injuries, and it's the same for the Pistons. That includes a similarly, and frustratingly, passive trade deadline. However, general manager Brad Holmes may be taking an inspired approach to the injury bug problem: a youth movement.

As former ESPN and current Palm Beach Post reporter Joe Schad pointed out on X, via Spotrac, the Lions currently have the fourth-youngest roster in the NFL. That's not a coincidence, as the Lions have allowed players in their 30s, like EDGE rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad and tackle Taylor Decker, to walk in free agency in favor of signings of under-30 players like EDGE D.J. Wonnum and OT Larry Borom.

The general logic is there. Football is a brutal game, and injuries mount. It becomes increasingly difficult to manage as a player gets older. It also theoretically adds increased energy and speed to each lineup and rotation compared to players who may have lost a step due to age or injury.

Decker, for example, hasn't played a full 17-game regular season since 2022. Not for the lack of trying, mind you. Now, this doesn't mean Decker can't do so wherever he ends up, but it's something Holmes has to be mindful of after these past two seasons.

These questions matter for a franchise that aspires to, and is in a position to, play well beyond 17 games. Can I trust this starter at a key position to be ready to go for a big divisional game or the playoffs?

Is a youth movement the answer?

Getting younger does diminish one of the variables with the injury bug, but it's tough to ignore the simple fact that young players can get injured, too. Cunningham is 24, safety Kerby Joseph is 25, and fellow S Brian Branch is 24. EDGE Aidan Hutchinson was 24 when his season ended in 2024, while center Frank Ragnow was 28 when he retired and 29 when injuries put a stop to his comeback efforts.

It also isn't like the signings the Lions have made have been for consistent 17-game players. Another Cade, C Cade Mays, was a fantastic signing and one of the best this offseason across the league. However, Mays played 14 games last season and 11 the season before. Elsewhere on the OL, Borom missed nine games in 2024.

Obviously, most of the injuries referenced are freak accidents. No one could've predicted Cunningham's collapsed lung or Hutchinson's broken leg. That's why the ability to come back from injury is extremely important as well, and, as Carolina Panthers fans and writers may tell you, Wonnum hasn't been entirely the same since coming back from his own complicated injuries.

To his credit, he played 16 games last season with far more snaps played than Muhammad, who played all 17 games.

READ MORE: Lions address a major flaw from last season with their three OL acquisitions

Ultimately, it takes a village to manage injuries. A good training staff is vital, of course. How a team is coached can also impact the frequency of injuries and how well they recover.

In January, San Francisco 49ers' legend Fred Warner suggested on the St. Brown Podcast that the Lions should put an end to full-tackle practices at training camp. That's just one minor thing that the Lions should consider that could really matter down the road.

There's never going to be a true cure-all for the injury bug. Injuries will happen. Even so, Holmes should be commended for embarking on a youth movement, regardless of whether he had the Lions' injury issues in mind or not. It's important for keeping the Lions' Super Bowl window open, and it could be the difference between a deep playoff run and another late-season disappointment.

Because who knows how many more late-season disappointments and injuries Detroit sports fans can handle.