Barnes has officially been placed on injured reserve, as confirmed by the team. This development, while expected, solidifies the fact that Detroit will be without a key starter for an extended period. It remains to be seen how Barnes’ recovery unfolds and when he might be able to return to action.
The Lions’ injury woes continue to mount, with linebacker Derrick Barnes set to land on injured reserve following a knee injury sustained in Detroit’s Week 3 win over the Cardinals, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Head coach Dan Campbell indicated that Barnes would miss a significant amount of time, as reported by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. There’s a possibility Barnes may require surgery, making a stint on injured reserve even more probable as the team assesses his knee and maps out a long-term recovery plan.
Barnes joins defensive end Marcus Davenport and center Frank Ragnow on the list of injured Lions following Sunday’s game. Davenport’s season ended due to an elbow injury, while Ragnow suffered a torn pectoral muscle.
“Losing Barnes is tough,” Campbell said on Monday, but he expressed “a lot of confidence” in the remaining linebackers. He has several options to fill the void left by Barnes, who started the season alongside veteran Alex Anzalone and 2023 first-round pick Jack Campbell in defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn’s 4-3 scheme. Malcolm Rodriguez, a 2022 sixth-round pick who gained popularity as a rookie on Hard Knocks, is the most likely candidate to step in, with Ben Niemann and Jalen Reeves-Maybin offering additional depth.
Barnes, a fourth-round pick by the Lions in 2021, appeared in 32 games with 10 starts over his first two NFL seasons before earning a starting role in 2023 as the third off-ball linebacker behind Anzalone and Campbell. Being placed on injured reserve will keep Barnes out until at least Week 8, though surgery could extend his absence further.
