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Lions Linked to Eagles CB as Detroit Tries to Fix the NFL's Worst Pass Defense
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- Lions Linked to Eagles CB as Detroit Tries to Fix the NFL's Worst Pass Defense
The Detroit Lions gave up 445 yards to Carolina on Sunday night, and the heat on Kelvin Sheppard's defense has not let up since. Through four games, no team has allowed more total yards or more passing yards, and no team has allowed more points than Detroit's 31.8 per game.
CBS Sports sees a trade as part of the answer. It labeled the Lions deadline buyers and named Detroit one of two landing spots for Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo, a 24-year-old in the last year of his rookie contract who has not played a defensive snap this season.
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Why Ringo is available and affordable
Aug 7, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs past Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo (7) on a 36-yard touchdown catch during the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images© Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Ringo has the build teams look for at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, and he started eight games across his first three seasons. He lost a training camp battle to Adoree' Jackson last year, drew seven coverage penalties in limited work and now sits behind Riq Woolen, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and Jonathan Jones. All 89 of his snaps this fall have come on special teams.
Detroit would be buying traits and counting on its coaches to do the rest. The need is obvious. D.J. Reed has allowed 13 catches on 20 targets and Roger McCreary 11 on 14, according to PFF, and Rock Ya-Sin left the Carolina game with a hamstring injury and has not practiced this week . "Brad's constantly looking to upgrade his roster (at) every position," Dan Campbell said of general manager Brad Holmes last week. "If we can find somebody that feels like it fits us and can help us, and the value's right, we will."
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Value should not be a problem. Ringo's base salary is $1.145 million , and the Lions have more than $34 million in cap space and all of their own 2027 picks. A late-round selection for a player Philadelphia isn't using is a small swing next to the Joey Porter Jr. deal Detroit chased and lost to Dallas.
There is a Detroit thread in his story, too. Ringo was a high school running back in Scottsdale, Arizona, until Bryant Westbrook, the Lions' first-round pick in 1997, moved him to cornerback at Saguaro High. The Lions play at Arizona on Sunday, across the Valley from where that switch happened.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Oct 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
