Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts stock report: 8 risers, 2 fallers from win in Indy

The Detroit Lions continue to roll through every opponent they face, and this time they’re taking it down Indianapolis Colts on their home turf. It wasn’t a pretty start, but the Lions quickly found their footing and outlasted a young Colts team that had to start making mistakes. All in all, if your day off is a double-digit win on the road, that’s a good sign. Here are your movers for the week.

Retention: Jack Campbell, LB

Statistics: 9 tackles, 2 passes defended

Campbell has quietly made strides this season, passing his litmus test with flying colors. With Alex Anzalone missing Week 3 with an injury, the second tier of the Lions defense didn’t miss a beat against a Cardinals team that is formidable on the ground. Now, with Alex Anzalone missing extended time on IR, Campbell is the leader of the linebacking corps.

Early results on Sunday were promising. The defense held Johnathan Taylor to 3.2 yards per carry. carry, and Campbell led the team in tackles. Campbell also rounded out his stat sheet with solid pass defense. Even more telling is that Malcolm Rodriguez had one of his best games alongside Campbell. We often talk about how elite players make those around them better. I’m not ready to use the e-word with Campbell yet, but he and those around him look really good, even without their veteran leader in Anzalone.

Retention: Za’Darius Smith, EDGE

Statistics: 1 tackle, 2 QB hits

Smith shows good early returns for the Lions. Plus he just looks happy to be here. He attracts a lot more attention than the stat sheet will give him credit for. His lone tackle of the day played an outside run all the way near the sideline, and his pass rush forced a team penalty from the Colts offense.

One play that stood out to me was on a stunt move to the inside where Smith bull rushed Quentin Nelson into Colts QB Anthony Richardson’s lap. That’s no easy feat against one of the best guards in the league. It’s also the kind of play that doesn’t result in a sack, but collapses the pocket and allows the rest of the defensive line to do cleanup duties. It’s the kind of supplemental pass rush the Lions have talked about having for years.

Stock drop: Kindle Vildor, CB

Statistics: 3 tackles

It was a tough day for Vildor in his first extended action in a while. If the Colts got chunk yardage, chances are Vildor was somewhere nearby. It didn’t matter if he was covering Alec Pierce or Michael Pittman Jr., whether it was a short pass or a deep ball down the sideline, whether it was a contested catch or a wide open ball, Vildor was a step behind all afternoon. The Lions still found a way to keep the Colts out of the end zone, so I’m optimistic that Aaron Glenn will find a way to get Vildor more support in Thursday’s game against the Bears.

Store: DJ Reader

Statistics: 1 tackle, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit

Reader quietly plugged the entire interior of the defensive line on Sunday. The Colts marched down the field on the opening drive almost entirely on outside runs. As the game progressed and they reverted to inside handoffs, they found absolutely no luck thanks to Reader’s presence. Reader also generated an impressive amount of passes on Sunday, a remarkable feat for a guy whose primary role is in run defense.

Stock drop: Ben Niemann, LB

Statistics: 1 tackle

Niemann continues to look out of place in both run and pass defense. His tackles in run support are often well into the second level, and he is consistently blown out of position by blockers to open up running lanes for the offense. The Lions are obviously getting thin at linebacker, which is why Niemann is seeing so much action, but if the Lions have to rely on Niemann down the stretch, that could prove to be a key vulnerability on defense.

Stock up: Jared Goff, QB

Stats: 26/36, 269 yds; 2 rushes, 0 yds; 1 fumble

Goff continues to look sharp, but this stock is what he’s doing with his feet. In years past, we’ve seen Goff try and fail to navigate the pocket with spin moves. But as he’s gotten hot this year, he’s using the extra time and space in the pocket to work on his mobility, and it’s showing. The last few weeks he’s evaded what would normally have been a couple of sacks. Especially against the Colts, Goff looked as comfortable as I’ve ever seen him make throws on the run. It’s great to see him still growing in year nine. If he can develop his pocket navigation into a strength, cementing himself in the upper echelon of quarterbacks will be huge for his long-term development.

Quick hits

Stock up

Malcolm Rodriguez, LB: Rodriguez filled in for Anzalone without any hiccups. The game is clearly slowing down for him this year and he is maintaining a high level of play as his role expands.

Loren Strickland, CB: Strickland had a key block on a punt return in the first half to open a lane for a few extra yards for Kalif Raymond. As a fringe guy, that’s how you keep going.

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB: Gibbs continues to increase his speed, but the real fun is watching him put his head down and break tackles like David Montgomery used to. Gibbs proves he can do it all.

David Long Jr., LB: Long saw very limited snaps, but looked good in run support as well as on the occasional blitz. As he learns the defense in the coming weeks, look for him to see an increased share of snaps if he continues at this level.