Tag: John Cominsky

Lions vs Bears: Final injury report medical analysis plus IR update

Lions vs Bears: Final Week 16 injury report medical analysis plus Detroit IR update

The Lions were due for some good news on defense and they got it with the returns of Ifeatu Melifonwu and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, although only Melifonwu has a chance to play this Sunday. Trevor Nowaske will also return from his concussion.

The Bears had a surprise on Friday when starting CB Jaylon Johnson came down with an illness. There were a couple offensive line concerns in Braxton Jones and Teven Jenkins, but they trended upward over the course of the week and may play.

The Lions IR-list has been changing on a daily basis so scroll down for the up-to-the-moment analysis.

Here are some general IR rules strategies to keep in mind:

  • Placing a player on IR means they can’t play for four games. They also can’t start their 21-day practice window until after those four games.
  • Players who start their 21-day practice window immediately after the 4-game IR stint may not need their entire window and could be medically ready to play immediately. For example, Alim McNeill last year played in his first eligible game after being on IR for his MCL.
  • Players who don’t start their 21-day practice window immediately after the 4-game IR stint presumably are expected by medical to need most or all of their entire 21-day window before playing.
  • The Lions might use up all 10 of their IR-return slots for this season. Thus any further injuries to key players that could return this season might not be placed on IR to preserve the IR-return slots. David Montgomery is an example of this. These players will simply be one of the gameday inactives.

 

DETROIT LIONS

Out – Jalen Reeves-Maybin LB, neck (UL LP LP)

JRM was hurt November 3, placed on IR, and started his 21-day practice window on December 19. The injury was initially reported by the Lions as a shoulder but ended up being a neck.

He missed only six weeks which reassures that he did not have a serious spinal injury. While he is eligible to play this weekend, he’ll likely use most if not all of the practice window. The week-18 Vikings game is 16 days away so that game or the playoffs are the likely return dates.

Out – David Montgomery RB, knee (NP NP NP)

Knuckles had a roller-coaster of a week regarding his status. The initial reported injury was an MCL. Early in the week, Dan Campbell stated he was going to have season-ending surgery. Then later in the week, it was decided that he would not have surgery and would try to rehab and return this season.

The fact that at least one doctor thought he needed surgery suggests this isn’t a straightforward partial (grade 1 or 2) MCL tear. Indications for surgery can include an unstable complete (grade 3) tear, a distal tear, avulsion, ligament entrapment, or multi-ligament tear.

Medical science is often a gray area and ever-evolving, so it is common to have differing opinions about the best way to manage an injury. Also, each form of management (surgical vs non-surgical) has its pros/cons so there is often not a definitive right or wrong way to proceed.

With the Lions poised to max out their 10 IR-return slots already, Montgomery may not be placed on IR even if his injury is projected to take >4 weeks.

Questionable – Brian Branch S, calf (NP LP LP)

Branch reached for his right leg late in the 4th quarter which could have been when he hurt his calf. He finished the game with a slight limp. In the prior game vs the Packers, he had calf cramping at the end of the game which is probably unrelated. A calf strain could cause some missed time and Brandon Joseph would likely take his place. The 2xLP suggests it’s not too serious.

Questionable – Graham Glasgow OG, knee (NP NP LP)

Glasgow played 100% of snaps vs the Bills, and I didn’t see any obvious knee issue. He may have also injured a knee in week two but hasn’t missed a game this year. With only a single LP, it might be wise to give him a game off. Christian Mahogany may get a start as he was the one to fill in when Kevin Zeitler went out briefly two weeks ago vs the Packers.

Questionable – Ifeatu Melifonwu S, hand (FP FP FP)

The previous “finger” listing turned into a “hand”. Regardless, he started his 21-day practice window immediately after his four-week IR stint which means he could be ready to play this weekend.

In – Frank Ragnow C, back (NP NP FP)

Ragnow played 100% of the last game but wasn’t his typical elite self. Perhaps a back issue is the reason. Good to see it’s not too serious.

In – Trevor Nowaske LB, concussion (FP FP FP)

Nowaske suffered his concussion in practice last week, but he has passed through the 5-stage protocol and is ready to play.

IN – Rest designation thus no injury

Taylor Decker
DJ Reader
Za’Darius Smith
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Kevin Zeitler

NOTABLES

Amon-Ra St. Brown

Played with “food poisoning” last game and stated on his podcast that he was vomiting. Medically, this is likely infectious gastroenteritis which is usually not serious but can cause dehydration and weakness. Typically, it resolves within 2-3 days so there shouldn’t be any dehydration issue for this weekend.

Emmanuel Moseley

Dan Campbell today stated: “This is the best week he’s had since coming back from the injury.” Moseley has not played in the past three games which could be due to his hamstring strain three weeks ago. With Carlton Davis and Khalil Dorsey out, Moseley may get his first action at CB this year after missing most of the year with a pec rupture in August.

IR LIST STATUS UPDATE

Returning soon

  • Alex Anzalone, left forearm fracture 11/17 – I’m surprised that his 21-day practice window did not open this week as I felt like the final regular season game (Vikings) was a likely target. The forearm was expected to take 6-8 weeks and the Vikings game is seven weeks post-injury and only 16 days away. The playoffs start in 22 days so even if that is the target, starting the 21-day window this week could have made sense. Forearm fractures heal very reliably so a setback is unlikely but not impossible. Hopefully, we see his window open early next week.
  • Kalif Raymond, left foot 11/24 – Initial reports were to expect him by the start of the playoffs. With the playoffs starting in 22 days, his practice window will hopefully open next week.

Early playoffs at best

  • Ennis Rakestraw, hamstring 11/23 – Eligible to return this week vs the Bears but his 21-day practice window did not open. This implies he is at least three weeks away.

Late playoffs is possible

  • Carlton Davis, jaw fracture 12/15 – Initial estimated recovery of six weeks would put him at the NFC championship game, but Dan Campbell today stated: “It doesn’t look optimistic to get him back”. Unrestricted free agent after this year.
  • Aidan Hutchinson, left tib/fib fracture 10/13 – Expecting very limited action in the Super Bowl. Hutchinson has significant expected atrophy in his legs so it all depends on how quickly rehab goes. 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 – Unrestricted free agent this offseason.
  • Mekhi Wingo, right knee – In 1st year of four-year rookie contract.

IR return count (5 of 10 used)

  • Lions have used 5 of 10 returns with Brodric Martin, Moseley, Reeves-Maybin, and Melifonwu twice. At this point, the last 5 will likely go to Anzalone, Raymond, Rakestraw, Davis, and Hutchinson who all could be back by the Super Bowl.
  • During the regular season, the Lions can only use a max of 8 returns but that’s not an issue as Davis and Hutchinson won’t be ready until the playoffs.

CHICAGO BEARS

Out – Ryan Bates OL, concussion (NP NP NP)

Bates might be a starter but has only appeared in three games this year and has missed the last four games. He’ll be out again.

Doubtful – Travis Homer RB, hamstring (UL UL LP)

Homer is mainly a special teams player this year.

Questionable – Jaylon Johnson CB, illness (UL UL NP)

Most common illnesses like respiratory infections or “food poisoning” can resolve within two days. Losing this quality starting CB would be a big deal. The Lions receivers are healthy and could take advantage.

Questionable – Braxton Jones OL, concussion (NP FP FP)

Jones is the starting LT and missed last game with this concussion. The FPx2 suggests he has passed through the concussion protocol and is ready to play.

Questionable – Teven Jenkins OL, calf (NP NP LP)

Jenkins is the starting LG. He played 96% snaps last game.

Questionable – Gervon Dexter DL, knee (NP NP LP)

Dexter is a starting DT who leads the team in sacks with five. He missed last game and seems likely to miss another.

In – Darrell Taylor DL, shoulder (FP FP FP)

Taylor is a backup DE who appeared to hurt his left shoulder last game.

In – Roschon Johnson RB, concussion (FP FP FP)

Johnson has missed the last two games but is ready now. He has 139 rushing yards on the year behind starter D’Andre Swift.

 

 

John Cominsky unlikely to return this season, says Dan Campbell

Cominsky injured his knee in training camp and the hope was he’d be able to return by the postseason, but that doesn’t look like it’s happening

Lions head coach Dan Campbell gave injury updates this week and the news wasn’t all that great for defensive end John Cominsky.

Cominsky tore his MCL back in July. Initially, there was some hope he would be able to return at some point during the season. Campbell’s words this week, this late in the season, threw cold water on those hopes.

“I think it’s unlikely,” Campbell said abut the chances of Cominsky returning this season. “Man, he’s tried. He’s been rehabbing, he’s doing it. It’s just trying to get over that last little hump here. It’s been tough. He’s been doing everything he can, and those guys are doing a heck of a job rehabbing him, trying to get him back. But I think it’s unlikely.”

The Lions have endured a plethora of injuries overall, but particularly at the defensive end position. In addition to Cominsky, Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport and Derrick Barnes have also suffered injuries. There’s a chance Hutchinson can return if the Lions reach the Super Bowl. The others are not expected to return this season or in the playoffs.

Cominsky is in his third season with the Lions. Detroit claimed him off waivers from the Atlanta Falcons in 2022. In two seasons with the Lions, Cominsky has six sacks in 30 games (19 starts) with 66 total tackles. For his career, he has played in 57 games (20 starts) and has recorded 107 tackles and 7.5 sacks.

Lions vs Bears: Initial injury report medical analysis

Lions vs Bears: Initial injury report and medical analysis for the Week 16 matchup

The last game vs the Bills was a brutal one for the Lions as three players were placed on IR (Alim McNeill, Carlton Davis, and Khalil Dorsey) with another one pending (David Montgomery).

There are still three regular season games left with the valuable #1 seed in play. It will be interesting to watch the snap counts of key players going forward.

The Bears have a couple injuries along the offensive line to watch this week.

DETROIT LIONS

David Montgomery RB – knee (NP)

Montgomery is reported to have an MCL sprain that is severe enough to be considering surgery.

Dan Campbell today and Montgomery yesterday both stated that the decision regarding his injury is pending. Presumably the decision is between 1) getting season-ending surgery, or 2) seeing if it can heal on its own well enough to return this season.

Most MCL injuries, even complete tears, can heal without surgery, so there may be a complicating factor such as a distal tear, avulsion, ligament entrapment, or multi-ligament injury.

Brian Branch S – calf (NP)

Branch reached for his right leg late in the 4th quarter which could have been when he hurt his calf. He finished the game with a slight limp. In the prior game vs the Packers, he had calf cramping at the end of the game which is probably unrelated. A calf strain could cause some missed time so keep an eye on his practice status over the course of this week.

Graham Glasgow OG – knee (NP)

Glasgow played 100% of snaps vs the Bills, and I didn’t see any obvious knee issue. He may have also injured a knee in week two but hasn’t missed a game this year.

Trevor Nowaske LB – concussion (FP)

Nowaske suffered his concussion in practice last week but the FP means he should play on Sunday.

Ifeatu Melifonwu S – hand (FP)

The previous “finger” listing has turned into a “hand”. Regardless, he is starting is 21-day practice window immediately after his four-week IR stint which means he could be ready to play this weekend.

REST designation thus no injury

Taylor Decker
Frank Ragnow
DJ Reader
Za’Darius Smith
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Kevin Zeitler

NOTABLES

Amon-Ra St. Brown

Played with “food poisoning” last game. Medically, this is likely infectious gastroenteritis which is usually not serious but can cause dehydration and weakness. Typically resolves within 2-3 days so there shouldn’t be any issue for this weekend.

Alim McNeill

Placed on IR with ACL tear. Expected return around November 2025.

Carlton Davis

Placed on IR with jaw fracture. Could be back in six weeks for NFC championship game.

Khalil Dorsey

Placed on IR with ankle/leg fracture. No chance of return this season but good chance to be recovered by start of next season.

IR LIST STATUS UPDATE

Returning soon

  • Alex Anzalone, left forearm fracture – I’m surprised that his 21-day practice window did not open today. I was expecting him to be ready by the Vikings game which will be seven weeks post injury and only 18 days away. There is still a chance he could start practice later this week, but if he doesn’t, then we might not see him until the playoffs.
  • Kalif Raymond, left foot – Expected by the start of the playoffs. His 21-day practice window is eligible to open next week and should open next week.

Early playoffs at best

  • Ennis Rakestraw, hamstring – Eligible to return this week vs the Bears but his 21-day practice window did not open today. This means he won’t play this weekend and may be more than three weeks away.
  • Jalen Reeves-Maybin, neck – Eligible to return anytime but has not had his 21-day practice window opened yet. This implies he is at least three weeks away. He is signed through the 2025 season.

Late playoffs is possible

  • Carlton Davis, jaw fracture – Initial estimated recovery of six weeks would put him at the NFC championship game. Unrestricted free agent after this year.
  • Aidan Hutchinson, left tib/fib fracture – Expecting very limited action in the Super Bowl. Hutchinson has significant expected atrophy in his legs so it all depends on how quickly rehab goes. 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 – Unrestricted free agent this offseason.
  • Mekhi Wingo, right knee – In 1st year of four-year rookie contract.

IR return count

  • Lions have used 4 of 10 returns with Brodric Martin, Emmanuel Moseley, and Ifeatu Melifonwu twice. With 6 potential candidates, it’s unlikely the Lions will run out of return slots unless more players go on IR.
  • David Montgomery’s status is up-in-the-air and if he could return in a few weeks, the Lions may decide to carry him on the active roster instead of using up an IR-return slot.

CHICAGO BEARS

Braxton Jones OL – concussion (NP)

Jones is the starting LT and missed last game with this concussion. The NP means he might miss another.

Teven Jenkins OL – calf (NP)

Jenkins is the starting LG. He played 96% snaps last game.

Gervon Dexter DL – knee (NP)

Dexter is a starting DT that missed last game and might miss another.

Ryan Bates OL – concussion (NP)

Bates has only appeared in three games this year and has missed the last four games.

Darrell Taylor DL – shoulder (FP)

Taylor is a backup DE who appeared to hurt his left shoulder last game.

Roschon Johnson RB – concussion (FP)

Johnson has missed the last two games but looks to be ready. He has 139 rushing yards on the year behind starter D’Andre Swift.

 

Detroit Lions I.R. list status update after the Bills game

Breaking down the Detroit Lions I.R. list status update after the Bills game

Three more Lions defenders will almost certainly land on IR after the Bills game – Alim McNeill, Carlton Davis, and Khalil Dorsey. Unfortunately, all of them are long-term injuries with Davis being the only one with a chance to come back this season.

David Montgomery also sustained a more-serious-than-expected knee injury (MCL) that will require surgery and put him out for the year.

At some point (maybe now), the Lions will need to calculate if they have enough IR-return slots remaining, and if they should carry short-term injuries on the active roster instead of putting them on IR. I explain more at the end of this article.

Returning soon

  • Alex Anzalone, left forearm fracture – Expect his 21-day practice window to open this week with a possible return to play in week 17 vs the 49ers or week 18 vs the Vikings.
  • Ifeatu Melifonwu, left finger – Today (Monday), Dan Campbell stated that his 21-day practice window would open this week. This means he could play this Sunday vs the Bears.
  • Kalif Raymond, left foot – Expected by the start of the playoffs. His 21-day practice window should open after this week’s Bears game.

Early playoffs at best

  • Ennis Rakestraw, hamstring – Eligible to return this week vs the Bears. Dan Campbell on Monday implied that his 21-day practice window would not open this week. This suggests he is at least three more weeks away.
  • Jalen Reeves-Maybin, neck – Eligible to return anytime but has not had his 21-day practice window opened yet. This implies he is at least 3 weeks away. At this point, his earliest projected return would be in the playoffs. Dan Campbell on December 9 corroborated a multi-week timeline stating he’s “better… There’s a chance we could get him in a few weeks.” While there are no details about his neck injury, this update is reassuring that it isn’t anything overly serious. He is signed through the 2025 season.

Late playoffs at best

  • Carlton Davis, jaw fracture – Initial estimated recovery of six weeks would put him at the NFC championship game. Unrestricted free agent after this year.
  • Aidan Hutchinson, left tib/fib fracture – Expecting very limited action in the Super Bowl although Jay Glazer reported that the NFC championship game is a possibility. Hutchinson has significant expected atrophy in his legs so it all depends on how quickly rehab goes. In 3rd year of 4-year rookie contract with 5th-year option. Expect an extension this coming offseason.
  • John Cominsky, MCL surgery – Initial estimate projected a January return at best. Unrestricted free agent after this year.
  • Derrick Barnes, right MCL/PCL surgery – Unlikely to be back. Unrestricted free agent after this year.

Not expected to return

  • David Montgomery, right MCL surgery – No details yet but hopefully he will be fully recovered for the start of next season.
  • 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 – Unrestricted free agent this offseason.
  • Mekhi Wingo, right knee – In 1st year of four-year rookie contract.

NFL IR RETURN RULES AND STRATEGY

Lions can return as may IR players as they want in the playoffs as long as it doesn’t add up to more than 10 for the entire year (regular season 8 + playoffs 2). So far, the Lions have returned four – Brodric Martin, Emmanuel Moseley, Ifeatu Melifonwu twice.

Expect Anzalone and Raymond to take two spots and Hutchinson to have a spot reserved for him just in case. This leaves just three returns left with four defenders (Rakestraw, Davis, Reeves-Maybin, Cominsky) being the likely options.

If the Lions feel that all four defenders can return, then it is possible that an offensive player like Raymond could be sacrificed to help the defense. Or the Lions could avoid that decision entirely by not putting Davis on IR and  carrying him on the active roster. He would just be one of the seven inactives on gameday every week.

There are still three games left in the season so more injuries are possible, and more short-term injured players may need to be carried on the roster.

Lions place John Cominsky on I.R., add receiver to practice squad

Lions place DT John Cominsky on I.R., add receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones to the practice squad

As has been the expectation for weeks, the Detroit Lions have placed defensive lineman John Cominsky on the injured reserve list.

Cominsky tore a tendon in his knee during the early portion of training camp and is expected to miss most of the season. The Lions held off on placing Cominsky on I.R. until after roster cutdowns, not using one of the two designated-to-return spots ahead of this week’s roster cutdowns. Those went to DT Brodric Martin and CB Emmanuel Moseley.

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The Lions also officially added wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones to the practice squad, a move that was reported on Wednesday but didn’t happen until Thursday morning. Because Peoples-Jones is a vested veteran and the Lions already had the maximum of six vets on the practice squad, Detroit had to release safety CJ Moore from the practice squad to accommodate Peoples-Jones.

The Lions still have one open spot on the practice squad, and it cannot be used on a veteran. However, the team is expected to sign DT Kyle Peko to the active roster before Week 1 to fill the void left by Martin and Cominsky being on I.R.

NFL Waiver Wire: Rules and where the Lions sit at roster cutdowns

NFL Waiver Wire: Rules and where the Detroit Lions sit as the roster cutdown deadline approaches

The NFL gets very busy this week, with all 32 teams trimming their rosters from a maximum of 90 for the preseason down to 53 players by Tuesday, August 27th at 4 p.m. ET. Some teams have already started their cuts, notably the Cincinnati Bengals, after their final preseason games.

All the players flooding the market at the same basic time can be difficult to sort through. Here’s what you need to know for the Lions.

Waived vs. Released

First off is the difference between being waived and being released. Being “cut” is a more generic term, but teams are actually either waiving or releasing a player.

Vested NFL veterans, those with at least four qualifying seasons, are released. That transaction ends their contract and they are unrestricted free agents, able to sign with any team without any compensation due back to the team that released them. They’re also free to sign back with the same team, either on the active roster or practice squad, once that can be established at 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

Detroit released Dan Skipper last season at the deadline, knowing the veteran was not going to go anywhere else before the team could bring him back.

Any player with less than four years of accrued NFL service time is waived. That means they are subject to waiver wire claims. Every other team is free to place a waiver claim on the player.

Last year, 24 players who were waived got claimed by another team. That includes cornerback Starling Thomas, who was waived by the Lions and claimed by the Cardinals. Current Lions CB Kindle Vildor was also a waiver wire claim after roster cutdowns last year, moving from the Bears to the Titans. In 2023, 33 players were claimed.

Waiver claims

The waiver claim order is pretty straightforward. It’s the exact same as the 2024 NFL Draft order before any trades. The Carolina Panthers have the No. 1 spot by earning the top pick in the 2024 draft; that the Panthers traded the pick to the Bears doesn’t matter in the waiver process.

Detroit has the No. 29 spot in the waiver claim order. If any of the 28 teams ahead of the Lions place a claim on a player that the Lions also claim, Detroit loses out. Those waiver claims are processed at noon on Wednesday.

Any player claimed must remain on the active 53-man roster for a minimum of four weeks. It also requires the team claiming a player to make another roster move to create a spot on its 53-man roster. This is how the Lions picked up Romeo Okwara several years ago; Okwara was on the Giants’ initial 53-man roster, then got waived when New York claimed a player. The Lions then claimed Okwara and waived Anthony Zettel.

Injured players

The NFL adopted a rule change in 2024 that allows two players to be placed on the injured reserve list before the roster cutdowns and still be designated to return during the season. In the past, if a player went on I.R. at the roster cutdown deadline, he was out for the season. They must miss a minimum of four games.

Detroit has players who might fit this bill in DL John Cominsky and CB Emmanuel Moseley. Without knowing the severity of his injury, safety Ifeatu Melifonwu could also be a candidate here.

In addition, the Lions have defensive lineman DJ Reader and rookie offensive lineman Christian Mahogany on non-football injury/illness lists. If they’re not officially activated before the 4 p.m. Tuesday deadline, they have to remain inactive for four weeks. If they are activated, they do count against the 53-man roster limit even if they’re not healthy enough to play right away.

Film Review: Defensive end Nate Lynn impresses in Detroit Lions debut

Film Review: Defensive end Nate Lynn impresses in Detroit Lions debut before leaving with a shoulder injury

Over the last three years under Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes, I always pay attention to the players they take later in the NFL Draft. In addition to that, it’s important to watch the players they sign as undrafted free agents.

Much of that is due to their ability to identify talent and coach them up. We saw them do this with players such as Malcolm Rodriguez in the 6th round of the 2022 NFL Draft or Jerry Jacobs as a UDFA in the 2021 NFL Draft.

For this season, the two players I kept circling were WR Isaiah Williams from Illinois and DL Nate Lynn from William & Mary. I’ve highlighted Williams already this summer. As for Lynn, well his college tape is scarce and I figured he’d get plenty of chances to prove himself this preseason.

In his first game against the Giants, he did just that. Finishing with two tackles, one tackle for loss and a sack, it was a promising debut for Lynn. Unfortunately, he has suffered a season ending shoulder injury and we won’t see him until next year. That said, let’s dive into some film to see what the Lions will be missing now that Lynn is on the shelf with the injury.

One of the first plays we saw from Lynn (DE #57) was the one highlighted above. In a wide-9 alignment against two tight ends, you’ll see Lynn to the right of the offense. Once the ball is snapped, the offensive line reaches to their right and the quarterback fakes the hand-off to the running back.

Working up field, you’ll see Lynn quickly using his right hand to rip through not one but two block attempts. One block from a tight end and the other from a running back. As he gets clear, he sees the quarterback step up into the pocket and from there, he quickly closes on the quarterback and smacks the ball out of his hand.

While this was marked as an incomplete pass, it’s a heads up play from Lynn. It’s also one that can certainly make a difference when he’s on the field with players such as Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill and D.J. Reader.

Flipping from the right side of the offense to the left side, you’ll see Lynn aligned as a 7-technique. Prior to the snap, you can see Lynn switch his feet and this helps him setup using his inside hand to rush the passer.

Once the ball is snapped, he bursts up field with good speed and due to that he forces the left tackle to turn his body to the outside to stop that speed rush. However, Lynn counters back inside with a beautiful spin move. Closing to the quarterback, Lynn is just about a step late from getting to the quarterback. That said, it does feel like his presence was felt on this rush and it forced the quarterback to rush this throw.

Lastly, I want to focus on the recorded sack from Lynn in this game against the Giants. While much of this sack was due to Brodric Martin getting to the quarterback with a good push-pull move over the center, Lynn gets credit for the sack.

Aligned over the left tackle, you’ll see Lynn get up field and hit the left tackle square. In the process, he tries to execute a rip move and once that gets stopped, he quickly tries to counter with a spin move. As he goes for that spin move, he gets hit by the left guard.

Fortunately, he showcases good balance and keeps his feet while closing to the quarterback. Once the quarterback slips through the hands of Martin, he’s met by Lynn and is taken down for the sack.

It’s unfortunate that Lynn got hurt because it was a strong debut for him in Detroit. He looked like he could compliment the defensive lineman that are established in Detroit. Meanwhile, he could have been a likely candidate to earn some of the lost reps from the injury sustained to John Cominsky.

For now, we’ll have to wait until next season for Nate Lynn and the hope is that he doesn’t lose any of the juice he provided the Lions from the first preseason game.

Lions losing John Cominsky is more impactful than people think

The Lions losing DL John Cominsky to injury is more impactful than people think, and Russell Brown explains why

During the Tuesday morning practice this week, the Detroit Lions had multiple players suffer injuries. Rookie CB Ennis Rakestraw suffered an apparent foot injury, and offensive guard Netane Muti went down with a left shoulder injury. Lastly, they lost defensive end John Cominsky for the season due to a torn MCL.

There’s some hope that Cominsky could return in 5 or 6 months. If all goes right this season, the Lions could be in a playoff push so the return of Cominsky could be very beneficial for this Lions defense. However, losing him for the season is going to be more impactful than people think.

Last year during the off-season, the Lions were faced with a decision of keeping Cominsky or letting him walk. During that time, I went over the pros and cons of bringing him back to Detroit. In that article, I mentioned Cominsky as being a “glue guy” for the team. Specifically for the defense.

The Lions have a young defensive front with Alim McNeill, Aidan Hutchinson, Levi Onwuzurike and others. With that, they needed a veteran to lead them and turn to when the going got tough and that player was Cominsky. In 2022, he played in 14 games and started 8 of those games. He had 44 total pressures and over 550 defensive snaps played that season.

Cominsky may not light up the stat sheet, but his versatility will be missed. He can play anywhere along the defensive line. For the most part, he looks best suited to play as a 4i-technique for Detroit, but he can bump into the inside shoulder of a guard when needed.

Move onto last season and it was still a strong showing for Cominsky. He was in the top 10 for defensive snaps with 569 snaps played. Replacing the way he plays on those snaps will be tough to do for the Lions defense.

https://x.com/RussNFLDraft/status/1725313226429084043

His play style fits the identity of the Dan Campbell led Lions. He’s got that tough mentality and is just a grinder in the trenches. His ability to take on blocks and fight pressure with pressure is very beneficial to how the Lions linebackers can play freely. It leaves those backers clean as they scrape over the top or attack downhill to stop the run.

Last season, Cominsky played in 16 games and he started 11 of those games. He finished the season with 36 tackles, 16 QB pressures and two sacks (per PlayerProfiler). We’ll see how the Lions replace Cominsky but I’d have to guess this opens the door players such as Mathieu Betts, Kyle Peko, Mekhi Wingo and Brodric Martin. Hopefully, the Lions depth on the defensive line can help fill the void.

Dan Campbell confirms ‘long-term’ injuries for John Cominsky and Netane Muti

Lions head coach Dan Campbell confirms ‘long-term’ injuries for John Cominsky and Netane Muti

The Detroit Lions suffered their first serious injuries of the summer during Tuesday’s practice session. Defensive lineman John Cominsky and offensive lineman Netane Muti each went down during the practice with injuries that required them to leave practice.

It’s not good news for either Muti or Cominsky, Lions head coach Dan Campbell confirmed.

“Both of them have injuries that will knock them out for a while,” Campbell said at the start of his press conference. “Both will need surgery.”

Cominsky suffered a torn knee ligament in his right leg, while Muti suffered a left shoulder injury.

When asked about injured reserve and the potential for Cominsky to return late in the year, Campbell didn’t rule it out, stating that he and GM Brad Holmes have discussed it but not made any decisions yet.

Lions lose key defensive veteran to a serious knee injury

Cominsky is expected to miss all of the regular season with the potential to return for the postseason

An unfortunate update on the health status of Lions defensive lineman John Cominsky. The veteran will miss significant time with a knee injury suffered during Tuesday’s practice at Detroit’s training camp.

Cominsky had his right leg rolled up on from the side at the end of a run play after he had assisted in the tackle. After initially trying to get up and walk it off, Cominsky angrily collapsed to the ground. He left the practice field on a cart. According to reports, including one from Sirius XM NFL Radio, Cominsky tore the MCL in his right knee.

The injury will require surgery that could keep Cominsky out for the entire season. Per Adam Schefter, Cominsky could potentially return for the postseason if the Lions advance into the playoffs.

Cominsky has been a regular contributor and part-time starter for the Lions defense for the last two seasons. In his first year in Detroit, Cominsky primarily played the EDGE spot and racked up four sacks in 14 games. The 2023 season saw the 280-pounder play more on the defensive interior, and his production fell off as a result. He was engaged in a camp battle with sixth-round rookie Mekhi Wingo, Josh Paschal and Levi Onwuzurike for playing time and depth chart status.