kind of understood what was expected," Patricia said. "And what we were going to try to do and how we were going to try to do things, which was obviously very different last year compared to what was done previously."SLAY SA

ALLEN PARK Tavon Wilson Jersey White , Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions have allowed 16 sacks in the past two games — and this week isn’t off to a good start either for the offensive line.The Lions put guard T.J. Lang on injured reserve with a neck injury Wednesday. Lang has missed three games this season, including last weekend’s loss at Chicago. Detroit signed cornerback Mike Ford to the active roster from the practice squad and signed safety David Jones to the practice squad.“He was a good veteran leader,” center Graham Glasgow said. “All of us will need to pick up the slack a little bit on that end.”The 31-year-old Lang is in his second season with the Lions after playing eight with Green Bay. Lang signed a three-year deal with Detroit before the 2017 season, returning to his home area. He was born in Royal Oak, went to high school in Bloomfield Hills and went to college at Eastern Michigan.Lang hasn’t played a full 16 games since the 2014 season, but he’s also never played fewer than 12 in his career. That obviously changes now. Lang has also dealt with back, concussion and hip problems this year.Guard Kenny Wiggins, who signed with the Lions in March, has started the three games that Lang missed so far this season.“Same way I always approach it,” Wiggins said. “I’ve been preparing all year like I was a starter. Now it’s just how it’s going to be now from now on.”Detroit (3-6) has lost three straight. The Lions yielded 10 sacks against Minnesota two weekends ago and six against the Bears.“It just hasn’t been our best performances,” Glasgow said. “Part of it has just been the situations that have been, just throughout the game. Down by a few scores, trying to come back and get some points on the board. It’s a lot of pass pro Kerry Hyder Jersey , a lot of pass rush.”The Lions have invested a lot in recent years to try to improve their offensive line. Detroit has used four of its past seven first-round draft picks on offensive linemen. Two of those selections — Taylor Decker and rookie Frank Ragnow — have started every game for the Lions this season.Lang, however, has been limited, and his future seems uncertain. Detroit’s running game has improved a bit, but the sack totals have stood out over the past two weeks. The Lions have fallen behind early, which makes it harder for them to take advantage of their running game.Quarterback Matthew Stafford has attempted 118 passes over the past three games.“We have to do better as a line and as an offensive unit,” Glasgow said. “You never plan to pass the ball every play. But, I mean, that’s just how it works. The game plan adapts to the situation.” The Detroit Lions have leaned heavily on Matthew Stafford since selecting him No. 1 overall in the 2009 draft.Stafford has started since he was a rookie, and after injuries stunted his first two seasons, the strong-armed quarterback has started every game for eight straight years.Detroit desperately needs that streak to extend through Matt Patricia's second year. Otherwise, it's difficult to envision how the Lions could possibly bounce back from a 10-loss season in Patricia's debut season as a head coach.The Lions signed Tom Savage to be Stafford's backup after he started seven games for Houston last season. Savage, though Graham Glasgow Jersey , has been in concussion protocol during the preseason. Detroit's other options are Josh Johnson, a three-game starter for Washington last season, and David Fales, who has never started an NFL game.Perhaps wisely, the Lions didn't expose Stafford to injury during the first two preseason games and held him out of practices in the hopes of keeping him healthy all year. Stafford insisted that sitting out of practices and preseason games had nothing to do with the back injury that bothered him last season."Oh no, I feel good," he said.NEW-LOOK OFFENSEPatricia inherited offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, who worked for fired coach Jim Caldwell, and chose to let his contract expire following last season. He hired former Seattle offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell to bring his balanced approach to Detroit, where Stafford has been a part of pass-happy schemes for much of his career. Second-year running back Kerryon Johnson and veteran C.J. Anderson, coming off a solid postseason run with the Los Angeles Rams, will have a chance to take advantage of Bevell's play-calling tendencies that have favored the running game.BLUE WALLThe Lions addressed their biggest need in the offseason, signing former New England standout defensive end Trey Flowers to a five-year deal worth up to $90 million. They bolstered their front even more in late July Da'Shawn Hand Jersey White , adding defensive tackle Mike Daniels after Green Bay released him in a salary-cap move. That duo, along with DTs Damon "Snack" Harrison and A'Shawn Robinson and end Romeo Okwara, will likely be able to slow down running games, forcing teams to pass.THROUGH THE AIRStafford should have some favorable matchups when he drops back to pass. Kenny Golladay seems to be a rising star. Veteran Marvin Jones is intent on returning to form after an injury-shortened season. Newly acquired Danny Amendola provides a slot receiver the team lacked when Golden Tate was traded to Philadelphia last season. The Lions also turned their weakness at tight end into a strength by signing veteran Jesse James and drafting T.J. Hockenson with the No. 8 overall pick."I've seen a big upgrade in that room," Bevell said.PATRICIA'S PLANThe Lions experienced a rough transition last year under the hard-driving Patricia following four seasons with the mild-mannered Caldwell. In Year 2, the coach and the players seem to be more comfortable with each other."Everyone kind of understood what was expected," Patricia said. "And what we were going to try to do and how we were going to try to do things, which was obviously very different last year compared to what was done previously."SLAY SAYSDarius Slay seems to be motivated to earn a new contract, showing up for training camp after missing a mandatory minicamp in the hopes of getting a new deal. The one-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl cornerback is in the third year of his $50 million, four-year deal. Slay predicted he's going to dominate this season, seeking to be compensated as one of the game's best players at his position."I play for the name on the back of my jersey and this organization and my teammates," he said. "Nothing is going to stop me from what I'm going to do on the field."INJURY REPORTThe Lions lost a key player on both sides of the ball in the third preseason game and their injuries may linger into the season. Linebacker Jarrad Davis was carted off the field after he could not put any weight on his right leg. Center Frank Ragnow was able to limp off the field after appearing to hurt his right knee.Follow Larry Lage at https://twitter.com/LarryLage