Darius Slay calls Lions defense 'bad bad' after 32-26 loss to Panthers

The retired cornerback called Detroit's defense 'bad bad' after Carolina rolled up 445 yards in Sunday's 32-26 Week 4 win at Bank of America Stadium.

The Detroit Lions fell to the Carolina Panthers 32-26 on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, in Week 4 NFL action at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Detroit's defense surrendered 445 yards in the defeat, extending the problems that have defined a difficult opening stretch of the season.

The teams went into the locker room level at 16-16 before Carolina took control with a run of big plays. Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and running back Chuba Hubbard repeatedly got free against a Detroit unit that could not keep pace with them, and Hubbard ran for a first-half touchdown against safety Chuck Clark.

Detroit technically outgained Carolina, 452-445, but the final numbers flattered the visitors. According to the report, much of the Lions' yardage was accumulated in hurry-up mode during the closing stages, after Carolina had built a lead of more than two scores.

The showing drew a blunt response from Darius Slay, the former Lions cornerback who retired in March 2026. Speaking during Sunday Night Football coverage, Slay said of his old team: "Lions I got a lot of love for y'all but man this defense is bad bad."

Slay's ties to the organization run deep. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, he was drafted by Detroit out of Mississippi State in 2013 and remained with the club through the 2019 season before announcing his retirement in March 2026.

Attention is now centered on defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, whose group Slay singled out. Sheppard took over the role in January 2025 with a reputation as an aggressive, heady former linebacker whose units would pressure opponents into costly mistakes, but the results have not consistently followed. Against Carolina, Detroit recorded zero takeaways while quarterback Bryce Young operated freely against a secondary thinned by injuries.

The concerns extend beyond the back end. Second-round pick Derrick Moore did not register a single statistic in the game, per the report, adding to the worries around a defense that struggled to slow Carolina in a matchup the source described as one of Detroit's biggest of the season.

The loss deepens a turbulent start to 2026 for the Lions, a stretch that had already included head coach Dan Campbell publicly backing quarterback Jared Goff in response to a dismissive remark from Ben Johnson. Campbell had appeared untroubled by the defense's early-season issues, though the report described the situation as having escalated sharply since.

Where Detroit goes from here is the pressing question. A related report said Campbell addressed the possibility of a change at defensive coordinator after the game, and if results do not improve quickly, Slay's criticism is likely to be joined by many more calls for the Lions to fix their defense.