Former Lions Star Darius Slay Sends Blunt Message After Woeful Defensive Performance
The Detroit Lions’ defensive struggles have reached a point where even former players are taking notice.
After Detroit’s disappointing 32-26 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday Night Football, former Lions cornerback Darius Slay took to social media with a blunt assessment of his former team’s defense.
Slay, who spent several seasons in Detroit before continuing his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, did not hide his frustration with what he saw from the Lions’ defense.
“Lions I got a lot of love for y’all but man this defense is bad bad,” Slay wrote.
His comments came after Detroit struggled to contain a Panthers offense that produced 445 total yards and 32 points.
Lions defense struggles again
The biggest problem for Detroit was the passing game.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completed 29 of 41 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns, repeatedly finding holes in the Lions’ secondary.
Rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was particularly dominant. He finished the night with 14 receptions for 192 yards and two touchdowns, giving Detroit’s defensive backs major problems throughout the game.
Running back Chuba Hubbard added another headache for the Lions, rushing for 122 yards and two touchdowns.
The performance continued a troubling trend for Detroit’s defense.
The Lions have now allowed at least 30 points in three of their first four games, leaving plenty of questions surrounding a unit that was expected to take a step forward this season.
Slay’s reaction adds to growing criticism
Slay’s comments are significant because of his history with the organization and his experience as one of the league’s veteran defensive backs.
He’s also not the only former Lions player to express frustration with the team’s defensive performance.
Detroit’s secondary has been particularly concerning, and the Panthers exposed those weaknesses throughout Sunday night’s game.
The Lions’ offense actually gave them a chance to win. Jared Goff threw for 412 yards and a touchdown, but Detroit’s final possession ended without a first down, allowing Carolina to escape with the victory.
The loss dropped the Lions to 2-2 and raised even more questions about whether their defense can consistently compete against high-powered offenses.
With former players now publicly calling attention to the problems, Detroit’s coaching staff will have plenty to address before the Lions return to action against the Arizona Cardinals.
