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The Detroit Lions Podcast

The Detroit Lions Podcast

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The Detroit Lions Podcast is an independent, fan-run show covering the Detroit Lions every day — and has since 2015. Hosted by Chris with co-host and managing editor Jeff Risdon, the show breaks down every game with live post-game call-in shows, works through the roster and the schedule, and goes deep on the NFL Draft. Over 1,000 episodes in, it's one of the longest-running Lions podcasts anywhere: no corporate desk, no borrowed takes, just people who have only ever covered this one team. Whether the Lions are rebuilding or contending, we're on it — win, lose, or heartbreak. One Pride. Daily Football (American)
Episodes
  • Daily DLP w/ Dr. Liao: Breaking down Lions medicals ahead of Packers in Week 7

    Daily DLP w/ Dr. Liao: Breaking down Lions medicals ahead of Packers in Week 7
    Oct 22 2026
    The Detroit Lions are healthy out of the bye and Lions defensive back Brian Branch will return on October 25 to a full workload. Doctor Jimmy Liao said Detroit will start him and keep him near 90 to 100 percent of snaps, with cramps the only watch item. Depth pieces are trending up too. Will Brian Branch play a full workload right away? Yes. Doctor Jimmy Liao said the Lions do not ease players back and expects Brian Branch to start and play 90 to 100 percent of snaps. The Achilles recovery timeline hit exactly as projected, 10 to 11 months, with the late-October target now here. As Jeff Risdon noted, Dr. Liao pegged Halloween as the window right after the injury, and Brian Branch lands squarely on that October 25 return. If his snap count dips well below expectations, Liao said that would signal fatigue, not re-injury. He added the only real in-game watch item is Brian Branch’s history of cramping. What do the Lions expect from Cade Mays and Ennis Rakestraw Jr.? Cade Mays is cleared to go without functional concerns. Doctor Jimmy Liao confirmed the right wrist fracture, on the snapping hand, was surgically addressed and does not limit him now, with only a small long-term arthritis risk to note. Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is ascending. Jeff Risdon said Rakestraw is up to about 50 percent of defensive snaps and pushed for a full starter’s load. Both hosts welcomed the positive turn for Rakestraw and the broader health report coming out of the bye. How should Detroit handle Sam LaPorta’s contract after back surgery? Cautiously. Lions tight end Sam LaPorta had a microdiscectomy, which removes tissue and carries a recurrence risk of roughly five to fifteen percent, per Doctor Jimmy Liao. By contrast, Liao said an Achilles rerupture sits around two percent, underscoring why back history weighs more in extension math. Liao explained the franchise tag is a blunt tool, with a projected 17,200,000 fully guaranteed hit for one year and modern “hold-in” risks if a player is unhappy. Jeff Risdon added that tagging to trade invites another hurdle, because the acquiring team must also meet Sam LaPorta’s contract demands. Liao also flagged future cap ripple effects, including potential 2027 dead money if Lions safety Kerby Joseph is released, as factors in Detroit’s calculus. What is the outlook for Kerby Joseph and how should Dan Campbell manage snap counts? For Lions safety Kirby Joseph, Doctor Jimmy Liao said ongoing knee pain and swelling indicate further cartilage damage, which is not fixable. He emphasized that shots like PRP or stem cells do not regrow cartilage, so repeated flare-ups signal harmful wear that has long-term consequences. Liao also urged head coach Dan Campbell to trim workloads. He cited heavy snap counts for edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, defensive tackle Alim McNeill, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta, and called for pulling starters when up 31 points with two minutes left, or with a 24 lead late. As Jeff Risdon put it, if not then, when. Looking to Sunday at 4:25 against the Green Bay Packers, Risdon expects Detroit to win, but both he and Liao want fresher stars for December and January. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #brianbranch #samlaporta #kirbyjoseph #ennisrakestrawjr. #cademays #aidanhutchinson #alimmcneill #jahmyrgibbs #dancampbell #bradholmes #greenbaypackers #detroitlionsvsgreenbaypackers #achillestendonrecovery #microdiscectomy #nflsnapcounts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 mins
  • Detroit Lions Podcast Roundtable: Breaking Out Of The Bye

    Detroit Lions Podcast Roundtable: Breaking Out Of The Bye
    Oct 22 2026
    Detroit Lions Week 7 preview: Green Bay Packers, bye-week returns, and the 2026 season outlook now. Episode 620 of the Detroit Lions Podcast brings Chris, Jeff Risdon, Michael Grey, Scott Bischoff and Russ Brown together live at 7:30 p.m. ET. The weekly roundtable resets the Detroit Lions 2026 campaign after the bye and turns directly toward Sunday’s Week 7 visit from the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. What did the Lions get back during the bye? Rest is only part of the post-bye equation. The panel examines the returns of Brian Branch and Cade Mays, along with the recent practice-squad movement. How much can those developments change the Lions roster entering an important divisional game? Which areas still need attention as Detroit moves into the next phase of the 2026 Lions season? Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph and Cade Mays are among the names in the broader roster conversation. The group will also assess what has stood out about Kelvin Sheppard’s work and where the Lions must improve. This is a forward-looking Lions season preview based on what Detroit has shown through its opening stretch, not merely a review of the first several weeks. Are the Detroit Lions turning a corner? Detroit entered the bye after a convincing victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona followed that game by beating the LA Rams, adding another layer to the discussion about what the Lions’ performance meant. Was that win evidence of real progress, and did the result look even better after what Arizona did next? Chris and the panel look back at the season so far to identify what is sustainable, what remains unresolved and whether Detroit is becoming a more complete team. The central question is straightforward: What does this team truly have as it breaks out of the bye? Lions vs. Packers Week 7 preview Green Bay had a shaky start, but the Packers suddenly look like a difficult matchup. Detroit will be tested immediately after its week off when Green Bay arrives at Ford Field for a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday. The roundtable breaks down the pressure points, the players who matter most and what Detroit must establish to control the game. Can the refreshed Lions capitalize on being home? How should Detroit approach a Packers team that appears more dangerous than it did early in the season? Join the live show for Detroit Lions analysis, NFL discussion and a complete Week 7 Lions vs. Packers preview. #DetroitLions #Lions #DetroitLionsPodcast #OnePride #NFL #Lions2026 #GreenBayPackers #LionsVsPackers #BrianBranch #KerbyJoseph #CadeMays #KelvinSheppard #FordField #NFLWeek7 #LionsRoster Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • Daily DLP: Brian Branch's impact on Detroit's D, plus Kerby? - Detroit Lions Podcast

    Daily DLP: Brian Branch's impact on Detroit's D, plus Kerby? - Detroit Lions Podcast
    Oct 21 2026
    The Detroit Lions exited the bye with 100 percent practice participation, and safety Brian Branch’s return restores a physical, tone-setting edge to the defense. This health reset arrives ahead of back-to-back home games against the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, a stretch Jeff Risdon said can launch the Lions to NFC favoritism. Are the Detroit Lions finally healthy after the bye? Yes. As Jeff Risdon noted, Tuesday’s practice had 100 percent participation from the active roster. That full attendance underscores a clean bill of health as the team ramps into a nationally televised Packers week at Ford Field. What changed on the practice squad? The Lions made a minor bottom-of-roster move: Chris Smith is out, and Detroit Lions practice squad nose tackle Aidan Keanaaina is back in that spot. It does not signal a pending elevation, but it reinforces depth for the interior. How will Brian Branch change the defense right away? Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch brings energy, physicality, and versatility that offenses must account for every snap. He can play slot corner, heavy safety, over the top, and blitz, and his presence makes receivers think twice crossing the middle. Via Justin Rogers, Detroit Lions defensive tackle Aleem McNeill described Brian Branch as a "shadow forces" player, echoing Dan Campbell’s team-meeting message about receivers flinching because they know a hit is coming. Detroit Lions linebacker Derek Barnes told Rogers that Brian Branch "sets the tone," starts fast, and makes an early impact play that lifts the whole unit. That intimidation element, alongside the existing front with Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, gives the back seven a needed enforcer. Brian Branch must avoid the personal fouls he has drawn before, but the attitude and disruption he adds are undeniable and immediate. Will Kerby Joseph play this season, and when? Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said he expects safety Kerby Joseph to play this year, saying "I do" when asked directly, but he declined to give a timeline. That keeps the door open without committing to a return date. Jeff Risdon emphasized caution, noting he needs to see Kirby Joseph on the field before believing in any impact. Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff added useful context, saying work against Kerby Joseph in practice sharpened his preparation for the unexpected, which underscores how Joseph’s instincts stress offenses when he is right. What do the next two games mean for the NFC race? They are decisive. As Jeff Risdon said, if the Lions win these next two at Ford Field against the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, they will be viewed as favorites across the NFC. National outlets already recognize how strong this Detroit Lions offense is, and Brian Branch’s return strengthens the defense’s tone and flexibility. The local skepticism about the defense is understood, but this healthy reset, plus Brian Branch’s presence and linebacker Jack Campbell’s continued adaptation in the middle, positions the unit to complement the offense. The Detroit Lions Podcast roundtable will tackle these stakes, but the path is straightforward, win the next two and seize NFC positioning. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #brianbranch #jaredgoff #aidanhutchinson #jackcampbell #derekbarnes #aleemmcneill #dancampbell #kirbyjoseph #greenbaypackers #minnesotavikings #fordfield #detroitlionsdefense #chrissmith #aidankeanaaina Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins
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