The Detroit Lions’ defense is struggling badly, but Dan Campbell doesn’t appear ready to make a coaching change.

After Detroit surrendered 32 points and 445 yards in Sunday’s loss to the Carolina Panthers, questions surrounding defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard have naturally intensified.

The Lions have now allowed at least 30 points in three of their first four games, leaving them with a 2-2 record despite an offense that has repeatedly kept them in shootouts.

Yet Campbell made it clear after Sunday’s loss that Sheppard’s job isn’t the immediate issue.

Instead, the Lions’ head coach wants his defense to find a way to improve with the players currently on the roster.

“We’re going to find a way to get better with what we’ve got.”

Campbell also pushed back against the idea that Detroit should immediately panic with 13 games still remaining.

The frustration, however, is obvious.

Detroit’s defense has become a major problem

The numbers are difficult to ignore.

Detroit is allowing 31.8 points per game, the highest mark in the NFL. The secondary has been particularly vulnerable, giving up an NFL-high 304 passing yards per game.

Against Carolina, the defense allowed 445 total yards and surrendered two fourth-down conversions.

Tetairoa McMillan was especially problematic for Detroit, finishing with 192 receiving yards.

For a team that entered the season with legitimate expectations in the NFC, those numbers are becoming increasingly concerning.

Lions players are backing Sheppard

Despite the results, several Detroit players defended their defensive coordinator.

Cornerback D.J. Reed pointed the finger at the players rather than Sheppard, arguing that the defense needs to win more of its individual matchups.

“It’s not a coaching thing, it’s a players thing.”

Linebacker Jack Campbell went even further in defending his coordinator.

He acknowledged that the defense has not played well but said Sheppard continues to have the confidence of both the players and Campbell.

The message from inside the locker room is therefore fairly clear: the players don’t believe firing Sheppard is the answer right now.

But the defense can’t keep relying on the offense

That’s the uncomfortable part of the situation.

Detroit’s offense has been good enough to cover for the defense in wins over the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets.

But eventually, the Lions are going to face opponents capable of exposing the defensive weaknesses before Jared Goff and the offense can rescue them.

That’s essentially what happened against Carolina.

Detroit scored 26 points and still lost.

A team with playoff ambitions can’t expect its offense to produce 30 or more points every week just to have a chance to win.

Campbell is choosing patience — for now

Campbell’s comments don’t suggest that Sheppard is completely immune from criticism.

Rather, the coach appears determined to exhaust the options available to him before considering a drastic change.

With Detroit sitting at 2-2 and 13 games remaining, Campbell clearly doesn’t believe the time has come to panic.

But patience won’t make the defensive problems disappear.

The secondary needs to improve. The pass rush needs to create more consistent pressure. And the entire unit needs to execute better.

For now, Campbell, Sheppard and the players are sticking together.

The real test will be whether that unity eventually produces better results.

Because while the Lions may not be ready to make a coaching change, the defense is quickly running out of excuses.