Dave Birkett
davebirkett.bsky.social
Dave Birkett
@davebirkett.bsky.social
Detroit Lions beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. 4x Michigan Sportswriter of the Year.
Pinned
Gonna leave this pinned here. Get your copy of my book, "Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline." It's a great gift for the Lions fan in your life. If you want it personalized, shoot me an email or leave it in the comments of the order and we'll make it happen checkout.square.site/merchant/ML5...
Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline - Dave Birkett
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This is not how the season was supposed to go, ending with a meaningless game against the Bears.

How, why and where the Detroit Lions’ 2025 season went wrong. A timeline of the unfortunate events www.freep.com/story/sports...
Detroit Lions timeline of how the 2025 season went awry
The Detroit Lions need a win Sunday against the Chicago Bears to avoid their first losing record since 2021, but things went wrong long before Sunday.
www.freep.com
January 4, 2026 at 3:19 PM
The Lions ruled out 5 players for Sunday: Penei Sewell (ankle), Alex Anzalone (concussion/personal), Trystan Colon (broken wrist), Thomas Harper (concussion) and Alim McNeill (oblique) www.freep.com/story/sports...
Lions' Penei Sewell likely out vs Bears, St. Brown trending to play
Penei Sewell has not practiced for Detroit Lions this week because of an ankle injury he suffered last week. Here's the Lions' injury report vs Bears.
www.freep.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:48 PM
Dan Campbell said Amon-Ra St. Brown is trending the right way to play Sunday vs the Bears, but he doesn't feel good about having Penei Sewell on the field. Sewell's availability or lack thereof will have no impact on the Lions decision to play Jared Goff (he's going)
January 2, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Lions practice report
January 1, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Kelvin Sheppard: 'I don't see drastic change' to Lions defensive scheme in 2026 www.freep.com/story/sports...
Kelvin Sheppard: 'I don't see drastic change' to Lions defense in 2026
Safety Kerby Joseph's absence due to a knee injury has left the Detroit Lions without a key piece to stop the passing game.
www.freep.com
January 1, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Reposted by Dave Birkett
"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command"
Trump denies what we've all seen with our own eyes -- that he regularly falls asleep during on camera events -- instead saying he's just "blinking."

“Sometimes they’ll take a picture of me blinking, blinking, and they’ll catch me with the blink.” (4/6)
January 1, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Lions OC John Morton wants to stay in Detroit, whatever the role: 'I love it here, I love Dan [Campbell]' www.freep.com/story/sports...
John Morton, Detroit Lions OC, wants to stay, whatever the role
The Detroit Lions offense is averaging fewer points and rushing yards per game with Dan Campbell calling plays than it did under OC John Morton.
www.freep.com
January 1, 2026 at 7:02 PM
A New Year's resolution for Detroit Lions: Fix the offensive line

www.freep.com/story/sports...
New Year's resolution for Detroit Lions: Fix the offensive line
Tyler Linderbaum, 25, of the Baltimore Ravens is expected to be the best center in free agency and could fix many of the Lions' problems.
www.freep.com
January 1, 2026 at 3:22 PM
That’s a hell of a pick
January 1, 2026 at 1:23 AM
Lions OT Taylor Decker isn’t ready to weigh retirement yet, but he acknowledges Sunday could be his last game: “I do have some things that I’m going to have to figure out to see where I’m at. But as of right now, I’m just operating business as usual." www.freep.com/story/sports...
Taylor Decker not ready to talk Detroit Lions retirement yet
Taylor Decker said it's important for the Detroit Lions to finish with a winning record this season because 'winning's the standard around here now'
www.freep.com
December 31, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Reposted by Dave Birkett
Rome Odunze remains out of Bears practice, Luther Burden limited.
www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootb...
Rome Odunze remains out of Bears practice, Luther Burden limited
The wait continues for wide receiver Rome Odunze in Chicago.
www.nbcsports.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Dan Campbell on Lions TE Sam LaPorta's recovery from back surgery: "You’d like to believe training camp we’ll get him, but you’re talking about a back. And he’s improving but yet, he’s not completely healed.” www.freep.com/story/sports... via @freep
Detroit Lions targeting training camp return for TE Sam LaPorta
The Lions averaged 31.4 points in the nine games before Sam LaPorta’s injury and have averaged 25.6 points in the seven weeks since
www.freep.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Dan Campbell on Lions TE Sam LaPorta's recovery from back surgery: "You’d like to believe training camp we’ll get him, but you’re talking about a back. And he’s improving but yet, he’s not completely healed.” www.freep.com/story/sports...
Detroit Lions targeting training camp return for TE Sam LaPorta
The Lions averaged 31.4 points in the nine games before Sam LaPorta’s injury and have averaged 25.6 points in the seven weeks since
www.freep.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Dan Campbell: "The plan is to get (Taylor) Decker going. He wants to play." Said the plan is for Decker to go, so Lions may have their OL in tact vs. the Bears
December 31, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Dan Campbell said Kingsley Eguakun "liked the opportunity" with the Cleveland Browns and that the Lions wanted to keep him on the 53. Eguakun signed to the Browns today .. As for center this week, Campbell said Graham Glasgow is feeling better www.freep.com/story/sports...
Kingsley Eguakun, Detroit Lions C, signs with Cleveland Browns
Kingsley Eguakun, who had 2 bad snaps that led to Detroit Lions fumbles in last week's loss to the Vikings, signed with the Browns on Wednesday.
www.freep.com
December 31, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Lions QB Jared Goff: Frank Ragnow return not 'in the cards' for 2026 www.freep.com/story/sports...
Lions QB Jared Goff: Frank Ragnow return not 'in the cards' for 2026
Frank Ragnow retired in June, then attempted a comeback in November that was cut short by a torn hamstring.
www.freep.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Dan Campbell: Jared Goff is 'going nowhere' as Detroit Lions starting QB; Kelvin Sheppard has 'done a damn good job' in first year as DC www.freep.com/story/sports...
Dan Campbell: Jared Goff 'going nowhere' as Detroit Lions QB
Jared Goff ranks third in the NFL in passing yards and second in TDs while taking a career-high 36 sacks this season.
www.freep.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Let's reword this one ... Ex-Lions OT Lomas Brown was not selected as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame this morning. He has one more year left as a modern era finalist. Here's the full list of HOF finalists www.freep.com/story/sports...
Ex-Detroit Lions OT Lomas Brown passed over for Hall of Fame
Lomas Brown, who has one year of eligibility remaining as a modern-era candidate, did not advance to the round of 15 finalists.
www.freep.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Ex-Detroit Lions OT Lomas Brown was passed over as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame www.freep.com/story/sports...
Ex-Detroit Lions OT Lomas Brown passed over for Hall of Fame
Lomas Brown, who has one year of eligibility remaining as a modern-era candidate, did not advance to the round of 15 finalists.
www.freep.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Tate Ratledge back to center 'not off the table' for Detroit Lions www.freep.com/story/sports... via @freep
Tate Ratledge back to center 'not off the table' for Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions need a long-term solution at center after Frank Ragnow retired in June at the age of 29. Rookie Tate Ratledge could shift over.
www.freep.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:11 PM
The Lions play a pretty meaningless game to end the season against the Chicago Bears. Lions coach Dan Campbell always found 'the ultimate motivation' in every game he played: 'Really it's, you got one more to not let the guy next to you down' www.freep.com/story/sports...
Will Lions stars play vs Bears? Here's what Dan Campbell said
The Lions will play their first game without any playoff implications since 2021 when they visit the Bears on Sunday. How will they handle it?
www.freep.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown 'wants to go' vs Bears despite knee injury www.freep.com/story/sports...
Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown 'wants to go' vs Bears despite knee injury
The Lions suffered a slew of injuries last week against the Vikings, including to defensive starters Alim McNeill, Alex Anzalone and Thomas Harper.
www.freep.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Can we stop calling college sports, college sports? Shouldn’t we call them what they are, minor league sports, now?
December 29, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Few things from Dan Campbell's presser today:
-Long injury list, but if players can go, they'll go
-Amon-Ra St. Brown knee will be fine long-term; Dan said he's day-to-day for now, wants to play Sunday
-Campbell doesn't know what position Tate Ratledge will play next year; he'll stay at RG this wk
December 29, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears: What's at stake in 2025 season finale? Plenty from seeding for the Bears to draft positioning for the Lions www.freep.com/story/sports...
Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears: What's at stake in 2025 season finale
The Detroit Lions will avoid a losing record with a win, but can help their draft prospects and get a more favorable schedule with a loss.
www.freep.com
December 29, 2025 at 1:59 PM