The Detroit Lions have announced their injury lists ahead of their Week 4 game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, and both teams have a chance to add some key starters back to their lineups.
Let’s take a look at where things stand heading into Thursday Night Football.
Excluded
- FB Jason Cabinda (knee)
- RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai (knee)
- OT Matt Nelson (ankle)
Although it was thought he would be able to train on Monday, Cabinda was quickly demoted to non-participant status and excluded for the remainder of the week. While he only plays about a dozen snaps on offense each week, he also contributes to over 75% of the special teams snaps, and all of those snaps are expected to be passed on to tight end/H-back Darrell Daniels, who will reportedly do the same will be added to the active roster.
Vaitai will miss his second straight game since coming off the bench during the Seahawks game in Week 2, and he will once again be replaced by veteran Graham Glasgow as the Lions’ starting right guard.
Nelson has officially been ruled out and will likely be placed on injured reserve on Thursday, based on coach Dan Campbell’s comments earlier in the week.
Questionable
- RB David Montgomery (hamstring)
- LT Taylor Decker (ankle)
- LG Jonah Jackson (thigh)
- CB Emmanuel Moseley (knee/thigh)
- S Kerby Joseph (hip)
“The two that are trending the most positively right now are Decker and D-Mo (Montgomery),” Campbell said at his Tuesday press conference. “Those are the two that are starting to make me feel pretty good.”
While there is still a chance that Montgomery and Decker will sit out this week, both players have told the media that they expect to play against the Packers.
Montgomery should rejoin a running back committee with rookie Jahmyr Gibbs, who performed well as a feature back last week. Decker should step back in at left tackle so Penei Sewell can move back to right tackle.
Jackson was injured in the second half of the Falcons game, but didn’t miss a snap and was limited all week. He is expected to start on the left as always.
The status of Moseley and Joseph appears to be a little more delicate, as Campbell was hesitant to say either would be available this week.
Moseley may be physically ready, but he has not been on the training pitch since Week 1 and given he is only doing walkthroughs this week, his acclimatization process could potentially keep him from playing for another week. When he gambles, you should expect him to play sparingly.
Joseph’s status is perhaps the most unknown of the group. If he plays, he should move back into the starting lineup alongside Tracy Walker. If he can’t go, the Lions will turn to Ifeatu Melifonwu to take snaps in his place, which could mean another week of expanded duties for rookie sensation Brian Branch.
No indication of injury
- C Frank Ragnow (toes/resting)
As has become weekly standard for Ragnow, he is still dealing with a toe injury, but no injury report is required and he will be good to go for this game.
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