On Sunday night, the #1 seed is on the line which carries the extremely valuable bye week. With the Lions having the earliest possible NFL bye this year in week five, getting a bye before the playoffs could do wonders for team health.
Fortunately, the past two games were healthy ones for the Lions as there were no significant injuries. The team is even starting to add players with the return of Jalen Reeves-Maybin last week and the possible returns of Alex Anzalone and Kalif Raymond this week.
The Vikings will be missing pass rusher Pat Jones from last game, but the rest of their active roster is in good shape.
For the Lions, there was a downgrade over the week in Craig Reynolds. Otherwise, there were no unexpected downgrades over the course of the week for either team.
(Abbreviations: UL=unlisted, NP=no practice, LP=limited practice, FP=full practice)
DETROIT LIONS
Out – David Montgomery RB, knee (NP NP NP)
Montgomery hurt his MCL and possibly more on December 15 which was 3 weeks ago. The hope is he will be back by the 2nd round of the playoffs which is in 2 weeks.
The full week of NP’s was not unexpected so there is no implication of a setback. Ideally, we see him move to an LP before the first playoff game. He is not on IR thus can practice and play at any time.
Out – Emmanuel Moseley CB, illness (NP NP NP)
It’s unknown the severity of Moseley’s illness. Moseley was active last game but did not log a single snap on defense or special teams. He has yet to play a defensive snap all year.
Questionable – Alex Anzalone LB, forearm (LP FP FP)
Dan Campbell stated today: “No setbacks…. It’s about him getting comfortable…. We want to be smart, we got a playoff game after this…. The only way to trust it is to bang away in there.”
With Anzalone starting his 21-day practice window only 2 days ago, it seems unlikely he will play on Sunday.
Anzalone broke his forearm 7 weeks ago on November 17. The fracture can take around 8 weeks to heal. He probably could play before fully healed with a protective splint as seen with Dallas Goedert who returned in 5 weeks last year and Thomas Davis who returned in 2 weeks for the 2016 Super Bowl.
However, there is a risk of forearm re-fracture which happened to Rob Gronkowski in 2013 when he returned in 6 weeks only to fracture it again 2 weeks later.
An interesting revelation that Anzalone made on the Ross Tucker Football Podcast about a month ago is that he broke this same left forearm in college. So he has first-hand experience with this injury which is helpful.
If this was the playoffs, the reward of playing probably outweighs the risk as there may be no further games. But it’s not the playoffs, and as Campbell mentioned, there are more important games coming.
Questionable – Kalif Raymond WR, foot (FP FP FP)
Finishing up his second week of his 21-day practice window, I’m expecting him to be ready for the Vikings. He started his window immediately after his 4-week IR stint which means he medically may not need his entire window.
Raymond has not played since November 24.
Questionable – Craig Reynolds RB, back (UL UL NP)
The back injury must have happened during the week. Reynolds was an effective #2 RB to Jahmyr Gibbs last game with 7 rushes for 31 yards. If he can’t go, Jermar Jefferson who had 3 for 9 yards last game likely moves up. Sione Vaki is the other option but he got no carries last game.
In – Christian Mahogany OG, illness (UL NP FP)
Mahogany missed all of training camp and the first half of the season due to mono, but the current illness is very unlikely to be related. About 90% of mono is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, and prior infection generally confers long-lasting immunity.
It’s estimated that 95% of humans worldwide by the age of 35 have immunity to the Epstein-Barr virus due to prior exposure. If you remember watching Barry Sanders, you’ve probably contracted mono in the past whether you knew it or not.
Here is my Mahogany article from September for more fun facts about mono.
In – Jack Campbell LB, rib (LP FP FP)
Campbell played 100% of the defensive snaps last game. I rewatched the game and nothing jumped out. A rib fracture is not out of the question but can be played through. A rib strain or rib cartilage injury are possible also. Regardless, the 2x FP reassures it’s not too serious.
For reference, Anzalone played with 3 rib fractures last year in the playoffs.
In – Amik Robertson CB, calf (LP FP FP)
Robertson played 100% of defensive snaps last game. My rewatch of the game didn’t pick up anything. The 2x FP to finish out the week is a good sign it’s not serious.
IR LIST STATUS UPDATE
Mid-Late playoff return is possible
- Ennis Rakestraw, hamstring 11/23 – His second hamstring issue of his year has turned into a long-term absence. He was eligible to return two weeks ago, but his 21-day practice window is still not open. This implies he is at least three more weeks away.
- Carlton Davis, jaw fracture 12/15 – Initial estimated recovery of six weeks would put him at the NFC championship game, but Dan Campbell stated two weeks ago: “It doesn’t look optimistic to get him back”. He is an unrestricted free agent after this year.
- Aidan Hutchinson, left tib/fib fracture 10/13 – Expecting very limited action in the Super Bowl which is in 5 weeks. Currently at 12 weeks post-injury, the bone is likely fully healed now. There is still leg atrophy as expected, but he is aggressively rehabbing. In 3rd year of 4-year rookie contract with 5th-year option. Expect an extension this coming offseason.
Not expected to return
- Derrick Barnes, right MCL/PCL surgery – Unlikely to be back. Unrestricted free agent after this year.
- John Cominsky, MCL surgery – On December 18, Dan Campbell stated he was unlikely to return this season. Unrestricted free agent after this year.
- Alim McNeill, right ACL – Expect his return around October-November of 2025. Signed an extension this past offseason through the 2028 season.
- Khalil Dorsey, right ankle/leg fracture – Unrestricted free agent this offseason.
- Malcolm Rodriguez, right ACL – Expect his return around October 2025. Next season will be the final year of his rookie contract.
- Marcus Davenport, left elbow – Unrestricted free agent this offseason.
- Kyle Peko, left pec rupture – Unrestricted free agent this offseason.
- Mekhi Wingo, unspecified right knee – In 1st year of four-year rookie contract.
IR return count (7 of 10 used)
- Lions have returned Anzalone, Raymond, Brodric Martin, Moseley, Reeves-Maybin, and Ifeatu Melifonwu twice.
- The last 3 returns will likely go to Rakestraw, Davis, and Hutchinson.
- The Lions can use all 3 remaining returns in the playoffs if they choose.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Out – Pat Jones DE, knee (NP NP NP)
Last game, video suggested a right MCL sprain which is a difficult injury for an edge rusher to play through.
Jones has 7 sacks on the year so this could be a big loss for Vikings pass rush. He’s 3rd on the team in sacks behind Andrew Van Ginkel (11.5) and Jonathan Greenard (11).
Questionable – Kamu Grugier-Hill OLB, illness (NP NP NP)
Grugier-Hill is a backup who has not played a defensive snap the last two games.
Questionable – Fabian Moreau CB, hip (LP LP LP)
Moreau is a backup who has seen only limited action this year. He has missed the last two games.
In – Aaron Jones RB, quad (LP LP FP)
Jones is in despite a right upper leg issue. It may be an aggravation of an injury to a similar location back in week five. I don’t expect any limitations but there is a possibility of another aggravation.
It’s officially reported as a quad contusion, but it’s possible there is a mild soft tissue strain going on as well. Jones has not missed a game all year.
He has had a very productive year with 1093 rushing yards (4.5 per carry) and 46 receptions for 378 yards.
In – Harrison Smith S, foot/rest (LP FP NP)
This long-time starting safety played 100% of snaps last game and has missed only one game this year. He has two interceptions this year.
In – CJ Ham FB, quad (LP FP FP)
Ham plays a lot on special teams and is a part-time player on offense. He has 5 catches and 2 carries this year.
In – Ed Ingram G, back (UL LP FP)
Ingram is a backup who started the first nine games of the year before Dalton Risner returned from injury and took over.
In – Josh Oliver TE, wrist (FP FP FP)
Oliver has 20 catches for 242 yards this year.
In – Stephon Gilmore CB, rest (UL UL NP)
(Hutchinson, Dorsey)