I don’t have an opinion one way or the other whether Barnes should be benched or not. I presume that the coaching staff which has the 4th best winning percentage since 2022 probably knows what they’re doing:
Team
Wins
Losses
Ties
Win %
Philadelphia Eagles
50
18
0
73.5%
Buffalo Bills
52
18
0
74.3%
Kansas City Chiefs
49
22
0
69.0%
Detroit Lions
47
24
0
66.2%
San Francisco 49ers
46
25
0
64.8%
Minnesota Vikings
46
25
0
64.8%
In any event, my post was more about trying to divine WHY the Lions would bench Barnes (assuming that’s even true). It’s probably not his pass defense, which has been very good.
That leaves only one likely issue–substandard run defense. There doesn’t appear to be any other plausible explanation.
Again, no position here on whether it’s the right or wrong thing to do.
So, the next time you decide to criticize another poster, work on your reading comprehension first.
I think the word “benched” is doing a lot of disingenuous work here.
It’s a lot better to have an optimized rotation. If you’re in base, you want your best run stoppers on the field – in this case, Campbell / White / Rigo. Bring in Barnes / Nowaske / Rolder for the pass plays.
And keep Campbell in the pass play mix, he needs the reps to learn the new zone concepts so he can be effective at it in December, even if it means the early months won’t yield blowout victories.
It would be nice if Barnes could play without the politics one year while he’s healthy, it just doesn’t look like that is going to happen in Detroit. I could pull post from previous year outlining the same scenarios, he does well, and his snap count diminishes SOS different year.
I’m not saying he will not play, I am saying he will not start in base and his snap count will diminish from this point forward. Anzalone, Campbell never leave the field, Barnes outright won the starting job, as in the past, yet they fine ways to take him off the field. If you are being honest Campbell is not playing well thus far in 2026, yet he plays100% of the snaps every game that will not change no matter what. Sheppard preaches how it does not matter your draft position or how much money you make, we are going to play the best players. I say that is hogwash, If you are going to take away snaps take them from Campbell. No way Barnes deserves to have any of his snaps taken away, and he definitely should not have been removed from base. He has earned the right to play every down on defense. He got the week 1 game ball, two weeks later they want to give Nowaske and Rolder some of his snaps, hmmmmmm. My initial post was deleted, I must have ruffled the right feathers. I will soon be sensored out AGAIN.
Boom we have a new starting safety. Clearly linebacker is not his thing since he’s being benched on Sunday. How fast can he lose 40 pounds? Only time will tell.
