The Detroit Lions have enjoyed a return to form after a slow start to the 2025 campaign, picking up a pair of wins against the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens over the past two weeks. However, injuries are already beginning to crop up, and the front office is already looking to the free agent market for some reinforcements.
Perhaps the most banged-up unit for the Lions is their defensive line, and they suffered another blow after their win over the Ravens when Marcus Davenport was placed on injured reserve with a chest injury. More depth is needed at this spot, which led Detroit to bring veteran defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson to town for a free agent visit on Tuesday.
Quinton Jefferson Takes Free Agent Visit with Lions
Jefferson, 32, has 252 pressures and 28.5 sacks in 115 career games. He had 14 pressures and two sacks in 2024, playing for the Cleveland Browns (five games) and Buffalo Bills (seven games).
Davenport’s injury isn’t the only one Detroit is dealing with along its defensive line. Alim McNeill is still out as he recovers from a torn ACL he suffered last season, while Levi Onwuzurike is out for the year after tearing his ACL during training camp. Josh Paschal is also out due to an undisclosed injury, meaning that the Lions‘ depth is already getting tested at this spot.
That has led the team to Jefferson, a former fifth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Jefferson has spent time with five different teams over the course of his nine-year career, most recently splitting time with the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills last year. At 32 years old, Jefferson isn’t necessarily a starting-caliber player anymore, but he has lots of experience, which could make him a strong rotational piece for the Lions.
Even with all these injuries, Detroit still managed to sack Ravens‘ superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson seven times on Monday night, and as long as Aidan Hutchinson is on the field, the team’s d-line will be competent at the very least. The Lions have high hopes for this season, though, and with Jefferson still being up for grabs, they are checking on his status ahead of their Week 4 action.
The Lions had DL Quinton Jefferson in for a visit, per the NFL’s transaction wire,” Richard Silva of The Detroit News shared in a post on X. “Jefferson, 32, has 252 pressures and 28.5 sacks in 115 career games. He had 14 pressures and two sacks in 2024, playing for the Cleveland Browns (five games) and Buffalo Bills (seven games).
Should the Lions Sign Quinton Jefferson?
GettyThe Lions recently brought veteran defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson to town for a free agent visit
The reasoning for signing Jefferson is pretty straightforward, as he’s a cheap veteran option who could immediately come in and help the Lions‘ d-line. Detroit would have to shuffle its roster around a bit in order to bring Jefferson aboard, but if they feel confident in his ability to contribute, that wouldn’t be a major issue for the team.
With a 2-1 record now, the Lions are rolling as they head into Week 4, where they have a matchup with the Cleveland Browns on their hands. This may seem like a favorable matchup for Detroit, but it is worth noting that the Browns just upset the Green Bay Packers in Week 3. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, and it will be worth keeping tabs on Jefferson to see if he’s on the Lions‘ roster for this game.
Lions Workout 26.5-Sack Veteran Defensive Lineman Amid Injury Concerns