Notes: Kenny Wiggins on tackling racial issues ‘I want to listen more’

When it comes to issues of social injustice and racism, Detroit Lions lineman Kenny Wiggins is ready to learn more.

Julia Lopez, sports anchor/reporter at KSEE24 News which covers Fresno, California, caught up with Wiggins, a former Fresno State Bulldog, to talk about what’s going on in the world.

“I want to be more educated, I want to learn more, I want to listen more, I want to be there for my brothers,” he said.

In light of the killing of George Floyd and protests on racial equality as well as police brutality across the country, the Lions determined team meetings were better used to hold player-led discussions on racism and social injustice.

“It was just about listening and making sure we tried to get on and open it up for conversation, real conversation, truthful conversation, honest conversation, heartfelt conversation,” head coach Matt Patricia told The MMQB’s Albert Breer. “And really, honestly, credit to my players for leading that. They’re the ones that really were able to get it to where it became so powerful.”

Several players, including safety Duron Harmon, have expressed that those meetings have fostered growth as a team, as players shared impactful stories of their experiences with racism.

Wiggins says his goal is to ensure the conversation isn’t about himself, but about what others have experienced, and how he can learn from them. A family man, he said the key is instilling the importance of equality in your own home from an early age.

“You gotta raise your kids to be good people, and not treat people by the color of their skin,” he said.

Watch the whole interview here.

And onto the rest of your notes.

• Tim Twentyman of the official team website takes a look at 10 things we’re missing this offseason, including seeing Matthew Stafford throw a ball (which we haven’t seen since midseason last year), and how Darrell Bevell plans to use his running backs.
• John Maakaron with Sports Illustrated’s AllLions offers three reasons the Lions should sign quarterback Cam Newton.
• Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr examines every NFC team’s biggest weakness going into this season. “This is not a team that can be fixed with the addition of one player, though the Lions’ coaching staff is certainly drafting that way.”
• In case you missed it, some Lions wanted to congratulate the 2020 grads.

• Jeff Risdon with Lions Wire ranks Detroit’s 20 best post-Millen free agent signings.
• A where are they now on Bubba Baker from detroitlions.com’s Mike O’Hara.