Pressers and scrums: Lions prepping for aggressive Vikings defense, McNeill surprised by extension timing and first injury report of the week

Allen Park — After expertly dealing with an aggressive defensive coordinator last week, the Detroit Lions are moving on to what some might consider the final boss of defensive aggression, Minnesota’s Brian Flores.

No team blitzes as much as the Vikings, and it’s not particularly close. That’s led to the highest pressure rate in the NFL this season and one of the league’s higher takeaway totals.

Like the Mike Zimmer-led unit in Dallas, Flores likes to challenge opposing offenses by flooding the line of scrimmage with defenders before the snap, making it difficult to decipher the plan of attack.

The good news is the Lions got two looks at Flores’ defense last year, hanging 30 points on them each time in Week 16 and Week 18 victories. But with a second year of acclimation, and some upgraded personnel at every level of the unit, the challenge figures to be that much stiffer in 2024.

“Yeah, their personnel’s better and they’re on version two of this defense, so it’s definitely a tough unit and we’ve got our hands full,” quarterback Jared Goff said. “But it’s something that we’re getting ready for now and it’ll be a good one.”

Goff said the key to understanding what Minnesota is trying to do is film study, but there are always going to be things the opponent throws at you that you didn’t see coming.

“That’s where all the work, right now, we’re doing is trying to figure out what’ll be the best way forward,” Goff said. “Pre-snap you’re making a lot of decisions and then post-snap you’re making a lot of decisions on where the ball should go. So yeah, there are a lot of tight, minute, millisecond decisions that you’re making, but that’s my job and I try to do it well.”

Lions coach Dan Campbell said another key is staying calm.

“Let’s all be on the same page, and if we’re all wrong, we’re all right if it comes to that,” Campbell said. “I think that’s a lot of it because they don’t make it easy and that’s part of this defense. They’re trying to stress you out, they’re trying to strain you, the clock’s running, this game we’ll be on the road, and it’s worked. They’ve gotten on some people. They’ve gotten on all these offenses and they’ve been able to play their game.”

Surprise, surprise

Alim McNeill put pen to paper Wednesday, finalizing a four-year extension that will keep him with the Lions through the 2028 season. Even though general manager Brad Holmes had expressed a desire to get the deal done, McNeill was caught off guard when he got word from his agent earlier this week that the talks were nearing the finish line.

“Honestly, yeah. I didn’t really know when it was going to be, because I wasn’t that locked in on that, to be honest,” McNeill said. “And then my agents called me two days ago and things were getting more serious, and I’m like, ‘OK, this is getting a little crazy.’ … The timing definitely was crazy, I didn’t expect anything right then, at that time, at that moment.”

What was McNeill doing when he found out? Watching “Reba,” of course. For those of you who previously missed it, McNeill humorously shared he was watching the same show in the middle of the night when he couldn’t sleep after a primetime game.

“When this is all going down, I’m on the phone with my agents or whatever, ‘Reba’ is on the TV,” McNeill said. “And Van, one of the characters, Van, in ‘Reba,’ he just signed a contract with this team in Colorado.

“It always comes on at crazy times. Every time it’s on, I have to do this, and I get a question, and now everything’s about ‘Reba.’”

Streak stays alive

For the third consecutive game, a Lion has been named player of the week in the NFC.

Before the bye, it was quarterback Jared Goff, following his 18-for-18 outing against Seattle. And punter Jack Fox claimed the conference’s special teams honors in Week 3 after he pinned the Cardinals inside the 20-yard line four times.

This week, it’s none other than Brian Branch. That's hardly a surprise after his forced three turnovers — two interceptions and a fumble recovered by teammate Terrion Arnold — in Detroit’s 47-9 drubbing of the Cowboys.

The last Lions player to win defensive honors was the man Branch has replaced at safety in the team's starting lineup, Ifeatu Melifonwu. He snagged the award in Week 16 of the 2023 season.

A nickname confirmed

The social media rumblings are true, the running back duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs have decided the nickname as a tandem is “Sonic and Knuckles.”

“I've been warned that that's what they want to be called,” position coach Scottie Montgomery.

Originally from the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series that launched in the 1990’s, the characters have expanded to comics, cartoons and a live-action movie.

Peko replacement plan

Campbell confirmed what had been reported elsewhere, but lost in the wave of the Hutchinson news: Defensive tackle Kyle Peko is also done for the season.

“I hate it for Peko,” Campbell said. “Peko’s been one of those just kind of silent producers for us. Does all of the dirty work and he’s the one who frees up Alex (Anzalone), Jack (Campbell), (Malcolm Rodriguez) Rodrigo and those guys to make the plays that they make. He held down the fort until (DJ) Reader got back and then he’s a rotational guy, so we hate it for him.”

Peko had also held down the fort while second-year defensive tackle Brodric Martin has been on injured reserve. And while he’s inching closer to returning to practice, it will probably be another month before he’s ready to re-enter the mix.

Campbell highlighted two other options who could fill the void in the meantime.

“We also have Chris Smith, we have (Pat) O’Connor,” Campbell said. “We have options. It’s why we have those guys here. So, we don’t feel like we’re pinched, we feel pretty good in that regard.”

Smith, an undrafted signing in 2023, was elevated off the practice squad for his pro debut in Week 1. Meanwhile, O’Connor, a seventh-round choice for the Lions way back in 2017, spent the past seven years with Tampa Bay, appearing in 68 games for the franchise.

Taking shots

The Vikings' defense has proven particularly stingy at preventing big plays. If you’re going to score against them, it’s likely going to come the hard way. They’ve allowed just three points from outside the red zone, one pass play of more than 40 yards, and one run of 20 yards or longer through their first five games.

The Lions, meanwhile, connected on four passes of at least 35 yards in last week’s win over the Cowboys. Those throws went to four different receivers, but they could have a tough time replicating that success.

“They play a lot of this shell defense with a two-high safety look,” passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand said. “And when they’re not, they’re bringing pressure. So they’re really forcing the ball to come out quick, whereas you may not be able to hold onto it as long and push the ball down the field quite as much.

“…So if you’re outside of the 30, you might get some of that two-high shell and they play pressure with that,” Engstrand continued. “So it’ll be a challenge again for us to find the opportune time to see if we can get that ball vertically over the top.” 

State secrets

We witnessed Amon-Ra St. Brown show his arm talent this season, delivering a pretty ball just over the out-stretched arms of a defender in a Week 2 win over Seattle. Engstrand was asked what other non-QBs can capably sling it.

The Lions aren’t about to give away those secrets — tipping their hand on a future trick play possibility — but Engstrand did reveal it’s something the team evaluates each offseason.

“Every year, in the spring, we do a throwing contest to see who might be involved in throwing those things (trick plays),” Engstrand said. “We'll see who it happens to be and at what point. I can't let the trade secrets get out of here.”

Injury report

The Lions were without four players during Wednesday’s practice, including a trio of offensive linemen. Center Frank Ragnow, guard Kevin Zeitler, offensive tackle Dan Skipper and cornerback Carlton Davis sat out the session.

The good news is Ragnow and Zeitler were listed as taking veteran rest days. And Davis, who exited Sunday’s game to be tested for a concussion, cleared protocol on Sunday and is dealing with a quad issue.

“Yeah, I feel good about it right now,” Campbell said when asked about Davis’ status for Minnesota. “There is a small chance that maybe not, but I will know a lot more tomorrow on this. I don’t see him practicing today, but I feel optimistic.”

In addition to those four, Branch was limited by a knee issue.

Poaching plan

On Tuesday, the Lions signed defensive end Isaiah Thomas off the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad. He’ll wear No. 35 in Detroit.

In the past, Campbell and Holmes have talked about how they’re in lockstep with roster decisions, so I asked Campbell how that process plays out during the regular season, when he’s consumed by the rigorous demands of preparing for the upcoming opponent.

“When it comes to those, he’s got a database of these guys that they’ve already done their homework on. …Most of the time, it’s guys that we liked coming out of the draft and you’re keeping tabs on them. And then sometimes it’s guys that have had production one way or another but now they’re not on a roster or they’re on a practice squad.

“Usually, when these come up, Brad will come in (my office) and he's like, ‘Hey, you remember so and so?’ ...He kind of just gives me the ‘This is what’s taken place since that time.’ I trust Brad on what he says and he knows that. I’m like, ‘You tell me it’s gold, it’s gold. If you tell me it’s not, then it’s not.’ So this move felt right for us. We liked him, we’re glad he’s here, and there again, he brings in more competition.”