As injuries decimate Detroit’s secondary, the Lions’ infamous “Legion of Whom” is making a comeback. With the team preparing to face Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams in a critical showdown, like the reunion tour of a favorite rock band, Lions fans are hoping they’ll stage a replay of their greatest hits.
Detroit Lions “Legion of Whom” Reunites To Take On the Rams
The avalanche of Detroit injuries began with second-year cornerback Ennis Rakestraw suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in training camp. While starters Terrion Arnold and Kerby Joseph struggled all season with injuries, in Week 4, veteran cornerback D.J. Reed suffered a hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve. That same week, cornerback Khalil Dorsey suffered a wrist injury that would sideline him for the next six games.
But despite the grim news of cascading injuries, Brad Holmes and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard persevered. Holmes went to work, signing free agent veterans and poached practice squad players. Sheppard cobbled together a patchwork lineup, preparing them to compete against the NFC’s toughest teams.
The Legion of Whom Is Born
In Week 7, Sheppard’s lineup of unknowns took on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . Playing against the NFC South’s number one-ranked team, safety Erick Hallett came off the practice squad that night, never having played a single NFL snap, to combine for eight tackles (six solo). Newly signed 32-year-old veteran cornerback Arthur Maulet hauled in an interception off Baker Mayfield. He also contributed five solo tackles and a pass defense. Former UFL cornerback Nick Whiteside , an Auburn Hills, MI native, making his made his NFL debut in front of friends and family, brilliantly defended an end zone pass, broke up two other passes, and contributed two solo tackles.
A Lions secondary made up of no-name and inexperienced players shut down Mayfield, a former MVP candidate. The dumbfounded TV commentators had to look up unknown player names as Detroit sealed the 24 to 9 victory. “Who were these guys?” They questioned, and the Legion of Whom was born.
Lions Injuries Continue To Mount
But the onslaught of injuries continued. For the second season in a row, the Detroit Lions’ secondary has been decimated with one devastating injury after another. Dan Campbell has been blunt , stating, “I’ve mentioned this before, this train doesn’t stop for anybody. Doesn’t matter who it is or what it is, we’ve got to go. Nobody cares, nobody’s going to feel sorry for you. You’re putting your best 22 out there, offense, defense – and special teams, by the way – and you’ve got to find a way to win the game. And you use all three phases to do it, and we will use all three phases to do it.”
Flash forward to Week 14. Arnold is lost for the season, and Joseph’s week-to-week status is uncertain. When Detroit Lions star DB Brian Branch went down with an Achilles injury that ended his season, and safety Thomas Harper suffered a concussion, that looming mountain of injuries suddenly became an aching cavity that required an immediate filling.
Holmes didn’t waste any time signing Damontae Kazee , a nine-year NFL veteran who was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft. After three seasons in Atlanta, the former San Diego State safety played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys . Signing with the Cleveland Browns this season, he appeared in four games before being cut in early November.
Kazee adds depth to Sheppard’s defense, joining veterans Amik Robertson, Rock Ya-Sin, and Avonte Maddox . He brings positional versatility, having played cornerback, safety, and, most recently, gained special teams experience with the Browns. When he was in Atlanta, he had his best season in 2018, recording 82 combined tackles and leading the NFL with seven interceptions.
Can The Lions Legion of Whom Do It Again?
The Lions pulled off a sensational win against Tampa Bay. They accomplished that amazing feat, fueled by a group of unknowns who came together as a unit to play lights-out football. Can they do it again in California? Like the best reunion tours, the Legion of Whom lives up to our fondest memories, and they’ve gotten even better with age.
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