Lions St. Brown catches a pass during warmups before Lions-Vikings game
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown catches a pass during warmups ahead of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025.
The Detroit Lions are coming off their worst all-around game of the season, and 4/5ths of their starting offensive line is dealing with injury – with one starter out until at least late December.
But nothing that happened in Sunday’s 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings has caused Lions coach Dan Campbell to change his tune on whether the team will do anything at Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.
“No, I mean, look, we’re still gathering information on some of our guys other than (Christian) Mahogany,” Campbell said Monday in Allen Park. “He’s definitely going to be out for a while, for a long time. But no, and look, Brad (Holmes) and I just got – and the coaches, got done with the game, looked at the game, talked about it, graded the players, and so we haven’t even discussed this coming out of that game, into today. So I don’t really have anything to say on it.”
Campbell said last week he did not expect the Lions to make a move at the deadline for the first time since 2021, though he left open the possibility of Holmes striking a deal.
Holmes has made moves to acquire depth help at each of the past two deadlines, trading for defensive end Za’Darius Smith last year and wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones in 2023, and he traded tight end T.J. Hockenson to the Vikings in 2022.
The Lions currently have depth concerns at offensive line, defensive end and in the defensive backfield, though with five defensive contributors on track to return in the coming weeks they don’t necessarily need to make additions via trade.
Starting safety Kerby Joseph could return as soon as this week from the knee injury that’s sidelined him the past two games. Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, on the physically unable to perform list as he rehabs from a torn ACL, is due back before Thanksgiving. Cornerback D.J. Reed is a few weeks away from coming off injured reserve with his strained hamstring. And defensive ends Marcus Davenport (pectoral strain) and Josh Paschal (back) are expected back later this year.
Special teams standout Khalil Dorsey (wrist) also is expected to return from IR soon.
“We got some guys that are going to start coming back and that does give you a boost,” Campbell said. “I mean, that helps you. It only makes your team better, makes your roster better.”
On the offensive line, Campbell indicated Kayode Awosika will get first crack at filling Mahogany’s role at left guard for this week’s game against the Washington Commanders.
Awosike played both guard spots against the Vikings, made two starts last year and started a playoff game for the Lions in 2023. Campbell said veteran Trystan Colon and practice squad linemen Kingsley Eguakun and Michael Niese also could compete for playing time.
“We’re looking at everything,” Campbell said. “We are. And like I said, we’ll see where we’re at but I don’t feel like this is – I can’t say one way or another whether we’re going ot make a move. I’ve got to go talk to Brad, but as of right now I don’t know if anything.”
Dave Birkett is the author of the book, “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline.” Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.