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The NFC-leading Lions have completed nine weeks of the 18-week NFL season, so let’s do a midseason health status report as we look forward to the second half of the season and the playoffs.
The offense has been remarkably healthy this year and may need to be relied on to carry this team as far as it can go. Currently, all offensive starters and key role players are healthy.
The defense has been mostly healthy in the secondary and the linebacker position. However, there is major concern with the defensive line which has suffered many significant losses.
This 3rd-year player is probably the 2nd-most critical player on the team behind Jared Goff because of his elite performance, his premium positional value, and the lack of depth behind him. Thus his loss is a big one to overcome.
The injury likely keeps him out for the rest of the season, although he has a chance to play in limited fashion in the Super Bowl. The tib/fib shouldn’t have long-term affects on his career as his joints were spared. Expect him back to his usual self by training camp.
Hutchinson has another year remaining on his rookie deal before the 5th-year option, but expect the Lions to give him a top-of-the-market extension this offseason.
This free-agent signing was expected to fill the starting role opposite Hutchinson but only appeared in two games before an elbow injury ended his season. Davenport is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this year.
This 4th-year player was playing a versatile role as a combination LB/DE before his knee injury. The video was not clear, but there is suspicion for at least an MCL sprain and hyperextension of the knee.
Whatever the exact injury, it’s significant enough to likely end his season. He hasn’t been definitively ruled out for the year, though, so there is a chance he could return late.
Barnes is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this year.
This free-agent addition was playing an important role in the middle of the defensive line until a pec rupture ended his season. Peko is an unrestricted free agent after this year.
Initial reports estimated a 5-6 month recovery which would put him out until January. The Lions put him on the roster at the 53-man cutdown before IR’ing him which implied that there is a chance of a return later this year. With all the other DE injuries, his return could provide a big boost.
Cominsky is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this year.
This 2nd-year, former 3rd-rounder has yet to play this year after getting hurt in preseason. His practice window opened on October 30 which means he should be ready to join the team soon. Expect Martin to be moved to the active roster on November 20 or even before if there are injuries to players ahead of him.
Moseley had surgery for a ruptured pec suffered during training camp. If he has the same 16-week timeline as CJ Gardner-Johnson’s pec tear of last year, he’ll be ready for Thanksgiving vs the Bears. If that’s indeed the plan, his 21-day practice window would open sometime in the next two weeks.
What may slightly delay the opening of his window is the fact that the CB position is very healthy right now.
He is also recovering from ACL tears in each of the last two years but that shouldn’t be a factor as he was looking good in training camp before the pec tear.
This 4th-year player has yet to play this year and was placed on IR after week three. He is eligible to return from IR at any time now.
While officially listed as an ankle, there have been scattered reports that it’s actually an Achilles. An Achilles tendonitis would explain the uncertain, longer-than-anticipated recovery.
Dan Campbell recently stated he is progressing, so hopefully we see him back soon. With the two starting safeties healthy and playing extraordinarily well, there isn’t much urgency at the moment.
This 6th-round rookie made it back to the active roster last week after a mononucleosis illness knocked him out of all of training camp. He missed most of the first half of the season on the NFI (non-football injury) list, but that was probably due to strategic roster management. The mono likely has not been an issue for multiple months.
His role this year was expected to be as a developmental, backup OG and losing months of mental and physical reps has delayed his timeline. Whether he sees much action this season probably depends on the health of the players ahead of him.
Rodriguez fortunately avoided what could have been a severe high ankle sprain or fracture. Early reports are that the injury is minor and he could be back as soon as this week.
Paschal has missed two games due to this unspecified illness which thankfully is not a recurrence of his 2018 melanoma. Reports are that the illness is minor and he may be available this Sunday.
Wingo presumably suffered an ankle injury in practice last week. The severity is uncertain but likely on the milder side since he has not been placed on IR and was initially given a “doubtful” designation as opposed to “out”. There is a good chance he’ll be back within the next 1-2 weeks.
There was no video of the knee injury so can’t speculate what is going on here. Fortunately, indications are it’s minor and he may be back soon.
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OVERALL
The offense has been remarkably healthy this year and may need to be relied on to carry this team as far as it can go. Currently, all offensive starters and key role players are healthy.
The defense has been mostly healthy in the secondary and the linebacker position. However, there is major concern with the defensive line which has suffered many significant losses.
CRITICAL LOSS
Aidan Hutchinson DE – left tibia & fibula fracture, week 6
This 3rd-year player is probably the 2nd-most critical player on the team behind Jared Goff because of his elite performance, his premium positional value, and the lack of depth behind him. Thus his loss is a big one to overcome.
The injury likely keeps him out for the rest of the season, although he has a chance to play in limited fashion in the Super Bowl. The tib/fib shouldn’t have long-term affects on his career as his joints were spared. Expect him back to his usual self by training camp.
Hutchinson has another year remaining on his rookie deal before the 5th-year option, but expect the Lions to give him a top-of-the-market extension this offseason.
MAJOR LONG-TERM LOSSES
Marcus Davenport DE – left elbow, week 3
This free-agent signing was expected to fill the starting role opposite Hutchinson but only appeared in two games before an elbow injury ended his season. Davenport is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this year.
Derrick Barnes LB – right knee, week 3
This 4th-year player was playing a versatile role as a combination LB/DE before his knee injury. The video was not clear, but there is suspicion for at least an MCL sprain and hyperextension of the knee.
Whatever the exact injury, it’s significant enough to likely end his season. He hasn’t been definitively ruled out for the year, though, so there is a chance he could return late.
Barnes is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this year.
Kyle Peko DT – left pec rupture, week 6
This free-agent addition was playing an important role in the middle of the defensive line until a pec rupture ended his season. Peko is an unrestricted free agent after this year.
John Cominsky DT/DE – MCL surgery, July 30
Initial reports estimated a 5-6 month recovery which would put him out until January. The Lions put him on the roster at the 53-man cutdown before IR’ing him which implied that there is a chance of a return later this year. With all the other DE injuries, his return could provide a big boost.
Cominsky is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this year.
LONG-TERM LOSSES RETURNING SOON
Brodric Martin DT – right knee hyperextension, August 24
This 2nd-year, former 3rd-rounder has yet to play this year after getting hurt in preseason. His practice window opened on October 30 which means he should be ready to join the team soon. Expect Martin to be moved to the active roster on November 20 or even before if there are injuries to players ahead of him.
Emmanuel Moseley CB – pec rupture, ~ August 5
Moseley had surgery for a ruptured pec suffered during training camp. If he has the same 16-week timeline as CJ Gardner-Johnson’s pec tear of last year, he’ll be ready for Thanksgiving vs the Bears. If that’s indeed the plan, his 21-day practice window would open sometime in the next two weeks.
What may slightly delay the opening of his window is the fact that the CB position is very healthy right now.
He is also recovering from ACL tears in each of the last two years but that shouldn’t be a factor as he was looking good in training camp before the pec tear.
Ifeatu Melifonwu S – ankle (Achilles?), ~ August 17
This 4th-year player has yet to play this year and was placed on IR after week three. He is eligible to return from IR at any time now.
While officially listed as an ankle, there have been scattered reports that it’s actually an Achilles. An Achilles tendonitis would explain the uncertain, longer-than-anticipated recovery.
Dan Campbell recently stated he is progressing, so hopefully we see him back soon. With the two starting safeties healthy and playing extraordinarily well, there isn’t much urgency at the moment.
Christian Mahogany OG – mono, July
This 6th-round rookie made it back to the active roster last week after a mononucleosis illness knocked him out of all of training camp. He missed most of the first half of the season on the NFI (non-football injury) list, but that was probably due to strategic roster management. The mono likely has not been an issue for multiple months.
His role this year was expected to be as a developmental, backup OG and losing months of mental and physical reps has delayed his timeline. Whether he sees much action this season probably depends on the health of the players ahead of him.
SHORT-TERM LOSSES RETURNING SOON
Malcolm Rodriguez LB – left ankle sprain, week 8
Rodriguez fortunately avoided what could have been a severe high ankle sprain or fracture. Early reports are that the injury is minor and he could be back as soon as this week.
Josh Paschal DE – illness, week 8
Paschal has missed two games due to this unspecified illness which thankfully is not a recurrence of his 2018 melanoma. Reports are that the illness is minor and he may be available this Sunday.
Mekhi Wingo DT – ankle, week 9
Wingo presumably suffered an ankle injury in practice last week. The severity is uncertain but likely on the milder side since he has not been placed on IR and was initially given a “doubtful” designation as opposed to “out”. There is a good chance he’ll be back within the next 1-2 weeks.
Sione Vaki RB – right knee, week 8
There was no video of the knee injury so can’t speculate what is going on here. Fortunately, indications are it’s minor and he may be back soon.
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