Detroit Lions LB Derrick Barnes on facing MVP candidate Baker Mayfield
Detroit Lions LB Derrick Barnes said that Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield may be tired of seeing the Lions.
Before they headed out for the bye week, the Detroit Lions placed linebacker Zach Cunningham on injured reserve on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
Cunningham reinjured his hamstring in Monday night’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He missed three weeks with the injury earlier this season, and returned to play three defensive snaps and 15 snaps on special teams against the Buccaneers.
The Lions (5-2) have enough depth at the position to weather the absence of Cunningham, one of the lineup’s top backups at linebacker. Starters Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes have played well this season, backups Grant Stuard and Trevor Nowaske are healthy and Malcolm Rodriguez is expected to return to practice after the Lions return from their bye.
Rodriguez has not played since tearing his ACL last November and is on the physically unable to perform list.
Cunningham will have to miss a minimum of four games with his injury, The earliest he could return is Thanksgiving against the Green Bay Packers.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.