The Detroit Lions released their Week 12 injury designations ahead of their matchup with the New York Giants.
The Detroit Lions (6-4) and New York Giants (2-9) have declared their injury designations ahead of the Week 12 battle on Sunday afternoon at Ford Field. While the Lions will be missing a couple of starters in their secondary, the Giants will be without their quarterback—a significant blow for their chances on Sunday.
Let’s take a look at the latest injury report and get you up to date with what we know. Note: Any changes from the last injury report will be bolded.
Ruled OUT
G Miles Frazier (knee, still on PUP) — Days remaining in evaluation: 4
EDGE Josh Paschal (back, still on NFI) — Days remaining in evaluation: 4
EDGE Marcus Davenport (shoulder, still on IR) — Days remaining in evaluation: 11
CB Terrion Arnold (concussion)
S Kerby Joseph (knee)
Frazier is nearing the end of his injury evaluation window, but as we saw with Malcolm Rodriguez last week, he won’t be activated ahead of this Sunday’s game. The Lions have been working on cross-training him at guard and tackle, in the hopes that when he does return, he’ll be able to contribute as a reserve at multiple spots.
“We’ve really worked him at both spots. I mean, he’s doing some tackle for us, but then he’s kicking in at guard, too,” Campbell said on Friday. “So, right now, we’re just trying to get him—it’s kind of like, alright, well if he’s going to go, he’s got to be able to play multiple spots if something happens.[…] So, he’s kind of doing a little bit of everything right now.”
Paschal is also nearing the end of his injury evaluation window, but whenever Campbell is asked about which players are close to returning, Paschal’s name is not included. That could mean that the Lions plan on waiting to activate him as long as possible, and then, even once activated, he may need more time before being ready to contribute.
Davenport is “close” to returning to game action, per Campbell, but it won’t happen this weekend. The Lions are in no rush to make a decision on Davenport’s status, which may not happen until after Thanksgiving.
Arnold was not able to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol and will need to sit out another game. With a short week next week (the Lions play on Thanksgiving Day), there’s a chance Arnold may be pressed to clear protocols ahead of the Packers game as well.
Joseph’s chances of playing this weekend were “slim,” according to Lions coach Dan Campbell, but the coach insisted the All-Pro safety was making progress towards returning soon.
“Doing better. Doing a lot better, progressing. Progressing, progressing,” Campbell noted on Friday.
Questionable
RB Sione Vaki (ankle)
WR Isaac TeSlaa (oblique)
RT Penei Sewell (ankle)
LT Taylor Decker (shoulder)
RG Tate Ratledge (knee)
C Graham Glasgow (knee)
CB D.J. Reed (hamstring, still on IR) — Days remaining in evaluation: 11
CB Khalil Dorsey (wrist) — Started evaluation clock — Days remaining in evaluation: 19
Vaki has been seen at practices this week working off to the side with trainers, suggesting he may need some additional time before he’s ready to fully contribute. That being said, only a small portion of practice is open to the media, and his involvement may increase behind closed doors.
TeSlaa was able to play through his injury last game, and while he was limited in practices, he appears to be on track to play again this Sunday.
Sewell was estimated to have not practiced on Wednesday but was back practicing on Thursday and Friday, suggesting he’s in a good spot to start against the Giants.
Decker didn’t practice on Friday, but that has become a common practice of late as he manages his lingering shoulder injury. At this time, he’s expected to start at left tackle, barring anything unforeseen.
Ratledge was injured in Week 11, but he’s practiced all week and appears to be in a good spot to start on Sunday.
Glasgow’s back injury is behind him, but a knee injury limited him this week. However, he’s been able to practice all week, and expectations are that he should be on track to start at center in this game.
Reed still has over 10 days remaining in his injury evaluation window, but when Campbell was asked if any of the players on the team’s injury list had a chance to play this week, the veteran corner was identified as someone who could pull it off.
“He looks good. He looks good. He looks like he’s back off the injury, he’s running around well,” Campbell said of Reed on Friday. “Certainly, any of that’s going to be the more he gets back on the field and just gets his feet back under him, it’s been a minute, but yet, he’s played a lot of ball too. And so, it’s not going to take very long. It really is like riding a bike. But happy to see him out there, and I know he’s ready to go.”
Dorsey just opened his injury evaluation window, so he’s not expected to be ready for activation after just two practices, but there remains a chance with a questionable designation.
Not listed with an injury designation
RB Jacob Saylors (back)
TE Brock Wright (ankle)
LB Malcolm Rodriguez (knee)
S Brian Branch (toe)
Saylors returned from injury last week and practiced in full all of this week, so he looks good to go for Sunday. Expect him to remain in a kick returner role moving forward.
Wright, who will likely be relied upon for TE1 duties for the remainder of the season, has practiced in full this week and doesn’t appear to be limited by his ankle injury.
Rodriguez was removed from the PUP list this week, and after another week of practice, the Lions are expecting him to return to game action this weekend.
“I feel pretty good about Malcolm going (in this game),” Campbell said on Friday.
Branch was estimated to have been unable to practice on Wednesday, but he returned to practice on Thursday and looks to be in a good position to start on Sunday with no injury designation.
Here’s Campbell on the Giants turning to Jameis Winston for this game:
“I think the core of what they do, and the pro-style offense itself is not going to change. And I think even if Dart had played, there wasn’t going to be a ton of quarterback run, things of that nature. So, I think run game itself stays intact, I think the pass game – there is some vertical pass game to it. I don’t think it changes a ton. And look, I know Winston very well, man. This guy, he can put it on a dime. He’s not afraid to freaking rip it in there, he’s competitive, smart guy. And so look, he’s going to give him a chance. He’s played a lot of games, man, won a lot of games. But we’ve been prepared for both, we’ve made sure that we prepared just in case if you got a little different flavor with Dart. But we kind of felt like Winston was probably going to be the guy.”
Full injury report (Starters are bolded):
Ruled OUT:
QB Jaxson Dart (concussion)
TE Thomas Fidone II (foot)
EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux (shoulder)
CB Paulson Adebo (knee)
Questionable:
RB Eric Gray (knee, still on PUP)
CB Deonte Banks (hip)
S Tyler Nubin (neck)
Not listed with an injury designation:
WR Darius Slayton (hamstring)
EDGE Chauncey Golston (neck)
DL Rakeem Núñez-Roches Sr. (toe)
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (illness)
CB Cor’Dale Flott (personal)
CB Rico Payton (illness)
CB Nic Jones (hamstring)
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