Detroit Lions rookie edge rusher Derrick Moore delivered his best performance of the season against the Miami Dolphins, recording two sacks and five quarterback pressures. Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard praised the second-round pick’s preparation while making clear that he believes Moore can do even more.
Sheppard said Moore spent the bye week working at the team facility every day. He added that players who put in that kind of effort are easy to root for, and that consistent hard work eventually shows up on the field.
Still, Sheppard set a high bar after Moore’s two-sack outing. “You had two sacks; you should have had five,” he said with a smile, describing the game as a breakout performance. Moore’s five pressures created opportunities to finish additional plays, supporting Sheppard’s point that the rookie could have produced an even bigger result.
## Moore’s Role Has Grown
The Lions selected Moore 44th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft and have gradually brought him into the defensive rotation. He has often served as the team’s third edge rusher and has played 27% of the defensive snaps this season, limiting his opportunities for a performance like the one against Miami.
Moore played a season-low eight snaps in Week 4. His workload then rose to 20 snaps in each of the next two games, accounting for 27% and 29% of the defensive snaps, respectively.
After D.J. Wonnum suffered a concussion in Week 8, Moore played a career-high 22 snaps, or 41% of the defense’s total. Wonnum missed the following game, and Moore’s workload increased to 33 snaps—58% of the defensive snaps. He responded with five pressures and two sacks.
## Lions Face a Week 10 Rotation Decision
Wonnum is expected to return for Detroit’s Week 10 matchup with the New England Patriots in Germany. The Lions will have to decide how much playing time Moore earns after his strong performance. One option is to ease Wonnum back into action while continuing to give Moore a meaningful share of the snaps.
The team has limited competition behind its top three edge rushers. Tyler Lacy can contribute, though he also plays on the interior, while Anthony Lucas played 12 snaps after being called up when Wonnum was unavailable.
The balance of snaps between Wonnum and Moore will be worth watching as the Lions face New England.
