Lions’ Derrick Barnes: 2024 Return Possible

Derrick Barnes remains out of the lineup for Week 12 as he continues to recover from the knee injury he suffered in September. The fourth-year linebacker is in danger of missing the remainder of the campaign, but he has left the door open to a return in 2024.

When speaking to the media, Barnes noted his knee suffered MCL and PCL damage, but added his ACL is intact. In the wake of that encouraging detail, the chance remains that his rehab could see him available to Detroit late in the regular season or in the playoffs. The 25-year-old is thus in a similar situation to teammate Aidan Hutchinson in terms of a return late in the campaign being an outside possibility.

“ACL was fine, so recovery obviously is shorter now than it would’ve been,” Barnes said (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “Thank God I woke up and he said he didn’t have to do anything with the ACL.”

Regardless of if Barnes manages to suit up again in 2024, his missed time will hurt his market value. That is especially notable since the former fourth-rounder is a pending free agent. Barnes acknowledged that shortly after the injury, he gave thought to the fact his rookie deal is set to expire this offseason. His attention for the time nonetheless being remains on his rehab process. Returning to the field would allow him to play at least a depth role at the second level of Detroit’s defense and help his case for a re-up in the spring.

Barnes saw a notable uptick in usage during the 2023 season, and after starting each of his three appearances this year he was expected to remain a key linebacking figure for the Lions. The team enters Sunday with a 9-1 record (good for top spot in the NFC), but that position has been hit with injuries. Alex Anzalone is currently sidelined with a broken forearm, an injury which prompted the addition of David Long. Getting Barnes back would provide another option at the LB spot, but Anzalone managing to return would help compensate if that turns out to be untenable.