As the Detroit Lions prepare for their first home playoff game in 30 years, the storylines attached to facing the Los Angeles Rams (Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff) are hard to avoid.
But let's take a little break from all the Rams-Lions stories and see what else is going on around the Lions this week. Some things might naturally have a tentacle involving Sunday night's playoff game, since it is the biggest thing this week, but you won't see the surnames Stafford or Goff mentioned again in this piece.
Let's dive into a few Lions' news nuggets for Jan. 11.
Detroit Lions news: Jan. 11, 2024
Pro Football Focus has announced their end of season awards. Lions right tackle Penei Sewell was named the best offensive lineman, with center Frank Ragnow getting an honorable mention there. Sewell has quickly become one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL, which isn't exactly news.
"Sewell’s 93.1 PFF run-blocking grade is one of the best single-season grades ever earned by an offensive lineman, trailing the likes of Trent Williams at his very peak. Sewell was a monster for the Lions in the run game all year long and was no slouch in pass protection, either. He allowed 20 pressures across 17 games."
Sewell and Ragnow also made PFF's 2023 All-Pro team. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown got a Second Team nod.
Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson talk about head coaching interest they're getting
The Lions last lost a coordinator to a head coaching job in 1973. This year, they might lose two. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn are at five and four interview requests respectively as of Thursday afternoon, with three teams (Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Chargers, Atlanta Falcons) submitting interview requests for both of them.
Johnson and Glenn each had their usual weekly press conferences on Thursday. The interest their getting from teams with head coaching openings was an automatic topic each had to address.
Glenn said he will take all four interview requests he has had come, but he's naturally focused on the task of preparing to defend the Rams' offense.
Johnson had the same sentiment, while also saying he had not decided about taking all the interview requests he has had come in.
“It’s awesome, quite an honor,” Johnson said. “But I honestly haven’t thought about it beyond anything that’s going on this week.”
In-person head coaching interviews can't occur for Johnson and Glenn until after the Divisional Round of the playoffs, with virtual interviews permitted next week after the Wild Card Round. Their sentiment about being focused on this week's task is not surprising, but the process that may yield one or both of them leaving the Lions is looming.
Dave Fipp talks punt returner options if (when?) Kalif Raymond misses game vs. Rams
Lions punt returner Kalif Raymond suffered a knee injury in Week 18 against the Vikings. While the status of tight end Sam LaPorta is getting most of the attention, Dan Campbell suggested Raymond was less likely to plan than LaPorta early this week.
On that front, via Ben Raven of MLive, special teams coach Dave Fipp addressed who would take over punt return duties if Raymond can't go on Sunday night.
"A guy like St. Brown, could he do that? It’s possible. He’s (St. Brown) been an emergency returner for us all season long. Obviously we’ve got Donovan (Peoples-Jones) who did it in Cleveland, so that could be an option.
“Then you got Mo (Maurice) Alexander on the practice squad, if we’re able to get him up. He would be a great option. He’s a great player. So, anyway, it’ll be one of those.”
St. Brown has never returned a punt in three seasons as a Lion, but he did do so a bit in college at USC. As Fipp mentioned, Peoples-Jones returned punts with the Browns, and in 2022 he averaged 12.4 yards per return with a touchdown. Alexander has yet to play a game this season, as he spent the regular season on the practice squad. But he has done well as a return man when he's gotten chances for the Lions the last two preseasons and as a kickoff returner last year.
Fipp was asked about Jameson Williams, who is line to return after missing Week 18 with an ankle injury and should he be healthy enough, as an option to return punts. The response was short.
"I see him a little further down the line than those other guys I mentioned,” Fipp said.
The Rams are last in the NFL in yards allowed per punt return (15.5), with two punt return touchdowns allowed during the regular season. So the Lions choice of who will replace Raymond, assuming that choice has to be made, should not be dismissed as minor or unimportant. It could end up being more than one of the aforementioned options, depending on the situation.