The Lions are 11-1 for the first time in franchise history. They’ve won 10 in a row, lead the toughest division in football and are currently slotted in as the NFC’s No. 1 seed. And yet, it’s hard to know what to expect from them on a given week, thanks to all the injuries on defense.
They’ve lost their star player, key starters, top reserves and depth that could be helping them right now. It’s about the only thing that could put a damper on the start they’ve had.
“This time last year, we were one of the healthiest teams and really, we’ve done the same thing,” Campbell said. “…That’s a freak deal. That’s kind of an odd thing that happened and how it happened. There’s no rhyme or reason and this happens, it just does. As long as I’ve been in this league as a player, as a coach, some years are great, it works out great, some years it’s just like this and you overcome it.”
The Lions are working on that — and they’ll need to. The Eagles (10-2) are right behind them in the NFC pecking order, and the Vikings (10-2) and Packers (9-3) are right there in the division. With five games left in the regular season, getting the defense healthy and finishing strong is of the utmost importance.
With that in mind, here’s a look at who’s out, who could be returning and who’s helping in the meantime.
Out for the regular season
DE John Cominsky (knee): About a week into training camp, Cominsky tore his MCL in his right knee, sidelining him for much of the season. Initially, the coaching staff left the door open for a potential return during the regular season. It remains to be seen if that timeline has changed, but with five weeks left, we’d need to know sooner rather than later. He seems like more of a January candidate.
DE Aidan Hutchinson (leg): In the middle of a special season, losing Hutchinson is a matter of what could’ve been. He was a true gamewrecker. To put his season into context, entering Sunday, Hutchinson ranked 10th in pressures among edge rushers, per PFF. Despite not playing football in seven weeks. He would’ve run away with DPOY had he stayed healthy. The Lions haven’t ruled out a potential return in the Super Bowl for Hutchinson, but it’s far from a guarantee, and the Lions would need to get there first.
DE Marcus Davenport (elbow): Davenport was brought in to be a pocket-crushing edge opposite Hutchinson. And for two games, he looked like one. But there’s a reason the Lions were able to sign a player with Davenport’s talent for such a low cost (6.5 million). He hasn’t been able to stay healthy. An elbow injury suffered in Week 3 will force him to miss the rest of the season.
DT Kyle Peko (torn pec): A bit overshadowed by Hutchinson’s injury, Peko, too, saw his season end against the Cowboys. He suffered a torn pec in the game and was placed on injured reserve shortly thereafter. A veteran with plenty of experience, Peko had been playing good football as a rotational defensive tackle. His absence was a blow to Detroit’s depth.
LB Derrick Barnes (knee): Barnes tore his meniscus against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3, another tough blow to the defense. He was a versatile piece for the Lions, able to play in the box, along the edge and in coverage. Barnes caught up with reporters last month and said he’s taking his rehab day by day. A return to play, even in the playoffs, seems unlikely. But it’s worth monitoring over the next month or so as he ramps up.
LB Malcolm Rodriguez (knee): Rodriguez had been filling in for the injured Alex Anzalone as a starter. He’s one of Detroit’s key reserves and capable of starting for teams across the league. But even he couldn’t avoid the injury bug. In the fourth quarter of Thursday’s game, Rodriguez walked off the field slowly and into the locker room. He did not return. The next day, he was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL. His season is over, and he could miss part of the 2025 season as well.
DT Mekhi Wingo (knee): Wingo, too, suffered a knee injury and will require season-ending surgery, Campbell announced Saturday. The rookie sixth-rounder’s season came to an end after Thursday’s win over the Bears. He was a key reserve along the defensive line.
Others: The Lions lost a pair of defenders before the season began in UDFA DE Nate Lynn (shoulder) and veteran DT David Bada. If either were healthy, there’s a good chance we would’ve seen them in action.
Could be back before the regular season is over
LB Alex Anzalone: One of Detroit’s team captains and veteran leaders, Anzalone left the Jaguars game with a broken forearm. The injury will sideline him for most of the regular season, though he could be back in late December. All things considered, not the worst situation. He’ll return ahead of the playoffs with fresh legs. But his absence certainly doesn’t help in the meantime.
LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (neck): Reeves-Maybin, an ace special-teamer and Detroit’s No. 5 linebacker heading into the season, was placed on IR with a neck injury in Week 9. It’s now Week 13, so the Lions could start the 21-day practice window for Reeves-Maybin as soon as this week. However, Campbell was asked about his status ahead of the Colts game, and if he expected Reeves-Maybin to return before the end of the regular season. “It’s just a matter of how quickly he recovers,” Campbell said of Reeves-Maybin. “We’re hopeful, but we really don’t know at this time.” It seems like he’ll need more time.
S Ifeatu Melifonwu (finger): Hurt in the preseason, the Lions knew they’d be without Melifonwu for the first half of the season, as he dealt with what the team called an ankle injury. However, just when he was close to returning to action, he popped up on the injury report with a finger injury. He was activated from IR for a day, then placed on IR a second time with that finger injury ahead of Week 12. He’s still eligible to return this season, starting in Week 16, and when asked if Melifonwu is expected back, Campbell said, “potentially, yeah.” Leaving the door open.
CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (hamstring): With the Lions dealing with some nagging injuries at cornerback, there’s a decent chance we might’ve seen Rakestraw get more run. Terrion Arnold missed the Colts game but returned vs. the Bears. Carlton Davis left the Colts game, didn’t play vs. the Bears and could miss the Packers game. Unfortunately, Rakestraw landed on IR ahead of the Colts game with a hamstring injury. That’s been a lingering issue for Detroit’s second-round pick. He’ll be forced to miss at least the next two games, but could potentially be back later in December.
Levi Onwuzurike’s hamstring injury is not long term, according to coach Dan Campbell. (Tork Mason / Imagn Images)
Day-to-Day
CB Carlton Davis (knee): As mentioned above, Davis missed the Bears game and left the Colts game with a knee injury. Campbell called him “day-to-day, questionable” for Green Bay. We’ll see if he’s able to give it a go, but the Lions could opt to rest him another week. The Lions will have 10 days between the Packers and Bills games, so that could be the move.
DT Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring): Onwuzurike has played in all 12 games this season — a remarkable feat for a player with his injury history. However, he’s dealing with a hamstring injury. When asked about his status, Campbell told reporters that Onwuzurike is day-to-day. Not a long-term injury, but perhaps enough to prevent him from playing vs. the Packers.
DE Josh Paschal (knee): Campbell hurt his knee in the win over the Bears, ruled out during the game. However, it appears he avoided a major injury. Campbell said he wasn’t optimistic about either Paschal or Onwuzurike suiting up and playing Thursday night vs. the Packers, but said of the two, Paschal has a better chance. At the very least, it sounds like he could be ready ahead of Detroit’s Week 14 contest vs. the Bills.
New faces
DE Za’Darius Smith: Since playing in his first game with the Lions, Smith is tied for first in the league in pressures with 17, per PFF. He’s been everything the Lions have asked for, coming through in big moments and keeping the defensive line intact without so many pieces.
DE Al-Quadin Muhammad: Muhammad played his first game with the Lions against the Titans, recording six pressures in the game. He had been a bit quiet since then, but Muhammad bounced back in a major way with five pressures and a sack vs. the Bears. If Josh Paschal can’t go, expect Muhammad to get the majority of snaps in his absence.
LB Ezekiel Turner: Turner has been in the building for a few weeks now, and he’s seen his snaps increase from 4 to 11 to 22 in his three games with the Lions. He was the next man up when Rodriguez left Thursday’s game vs. the Bears.
LB David Long Jr.: Added last month from the Dolphins as linebacker insurance, Long Jr. has already been forced into action thanks to all the injuries. It’s all hands on deck right now, and Long has been working to get up to speed with Detroit’s terminology. The Packers game will be his third with the team, and given how thin Detroit is there, they likely need him to play significant defensive snaps along with Turner.
LB Kwon Alexander: One of the more recent additions, Alexander, signed from the Broncos’ practice squad, has familiarity with Lions’ DC Aaron Glenn from their time in New Orleans. That could help him pick up on the terminology quickly. The Lions will monitor the efforts of Turner, Long and Alexander, along with Ben Niemann, and figure out a pecking order there — centered around Jack Campbell.
S/LB Jamal Adams: On the surface, the addition of Adams gives the Lions some safety depth behind their two stars — Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, especially given Melifonwu’s lingering injuries. But with so many injuries at linebacker, the Lions would be wise to use Adams in the box as more of a run defender. In 2023 with the Seahawks, Adams played 208 snaps in the box, compared to just 85 at free safety, per Pro Football Focus. It would be a good way to maximize his skill level at this point in his career.
DL Myles Adams: The Lions got a good look at Adams, formerly of the Seahawks, when they hosted Seattle on Monday Night Football in September. He turned in his best game of the season, though he’s only played in three this year. With Wingo done for the season and Onwuzurike potentially missing time, it makes sense for the Lions to add here.
DL Jonah Williams: Poached from the Rams’ practice squad, Williams has appeared in 48 career games with 22 starts under his belt. He’s experienced and has familiarity with Lions GM Brad Holmes. Williams signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2020, when Holmes was LA’s director of college scouting. He should be able to provide depth behind Alim McNeill and DJ Reader, and alongside Pat O’Connor, Adams and Brodric Martin.
(Top photo of Alex Anzalone: Junfu Han / Imagn Images)
