Tag: Trey Flowers

Lions injury report: Jared Goff listed as limited, 5 players out in 1st Week 12 practice

Lions injury report: Jared Goff listed as limited, 5 players out in 1st Week 12 practice

The short work week in between Sunday’s loss to the Cleveland Browns and the Thanksgiving matinee against the Chicago Bears forced the Detroit Lions to do just a walkthrough practice session on Monday. From the walkthrough, the Lions provided an estimated injury status report on several players.

Five players were deemed as not able to practice. Three of them are starters. Right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai suffered a concussion in Cleveland and figures to be out for Thursday’s game. Outside linebacker Trey Flowers is still sidelined with a knee issue that also kept him out of Week 10, while nickel CB AJ Parker is idled with an ankle injury. Top reserve offensive tackle Matt Nelson (ankle) and defensive end Da’Shawn Hand (groin) were also deemed out.

Three players who missed Sunday’s loss were all designated as limited in practice. None is more critical here than quarterback Jared Goff. After the Browns game, coach Dan Campbell indicated that if Goff’s oblique injury allows him to play, Goff will indeed return to the starting QB position.

Wide receiver Trinity Benson (knee) and running back Jermar Jefferson (knee/ankle) were also listed as questionable. They were both inactive for Week 11.

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Lions vs. Rams: Best and worst PFF grades from Week 7

The Detroit Lions best and worst performers in PFF grades from their Week 7 loss against the Los Angeles Rams

Amongst their luggage, the Detroit Lions brought their bag of tricks against the Los Angeles Rams. It wasn’t enough to overcome the high-powered Rams as the Lions lost their seventh straight this season to a 28-19 defeat.

The majority of the populous did not give the Lions a shot at even competing with a potential Super Bowl contender, figuring they would get embarrassed out of Los Angeles. However, with two fake punts and a successful onside kick, the Lions were able to steal processions away and gave them a shot at potentially stealing this game away from the Rams. Unfortunately, the Lions were not able to capitalize on those efforts due to untimely mistakes but let me tell you, that is probably the most entertaining Lions game in quite some time.

Considering how often the Lions have been set as major underdogs this season, they have held tight against tough teams, giving some hope that the Lions are heading in the right direction. You can see the improvements the players are making and the coaching staff taking each loss as a lesson learned and applying for future matchups.

With this week’s top PFF performers, who can see the massive steps forward taken amongst the player, the bottom players are trying to find their footing.

Lions injury report: Jamaal Williams sits out, 3 others return to action

Williams sat out after being limited on Wednesday, while 3 Lions who missed Wednesday came back as limited on Thursday

The Lions practice injury report changed quite a bit from Wednesday to Thursday in advance of the Week 6 meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Running back Jamaal Williams did not practice on Thursday. He was listed with both a hip injury and an illness designation. Williams was limited in Wednesday’s session.

Three Lions who were out on Wednesday returned to practice as limited participants. Defensive end Trey Flowers (knee), tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) and cornerback Amani Oruwariye (hip) all came back. They joined fellow limited participants LG Jonah Jackson (shoulder) and RB D’Andre Swift (groin).

Cornerback and return man Corey Ballentine remains out from both practices with a hamstring issue.

The final injury report for Sunday’s game comes out after Friday’s practice in Allen Park.

Lions vs. Vikings: Best and worst PFF grades from Week 5

Detroit Lions best and worst players through PFF shows the highlights and struggles against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5

Another kick to the heart for the Detroit Lions after the Minnesota Vikings stole the victory right out of the Lions’ grasp with a last-minute field goal to drop the Lions record to 0-5 to start the season.

On top of another loss, the Lions lose yet another player, WR Quintez Cephus, to a potentially season-ending injury, making everyone wonder how the Lions can have this much bad luck. But you can tell the players are fighting to the last second and giving their all, making these losses so tough it brings Dan Campbell to tears.

It will only be a matter of time before the Lions get their first victory, and many of these players will be out to help achieve that win.

Here are this week’s PFF’s best and worst players for the Lions in Week 5.

The Lions are spending almost half their salary cap on players unavailable for Week 5

The Detroit Lions are spending almost half their salary cap on players unavailable for Week 5 due to either injuries or dead cap room

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The Detroit Lions were unlikely to win many games in 2021 thanks to the franchise overhaul that left the team thin on talent at a lot of spots. The new regime flushing away the vestiges of the failed Bob Quinn/Matt Patricia era was always going to take some time and leave the Lions shorter on talent than most foes.

But through four weeks, the Lions are also facing an additional barrier to winning. The injuries have been catastrophic to the team’s chances to compete. And the list keeps getting longer and more critical by the week, unfortunately.

It comes at a cost. The Lions are currently paying $32.4 million in 2021 cap room to players who enter Week 5 on injured reserve. Because the Lions carried over unused cap room from 2020, their cap figure for the 2021 season is $197.7 million. That’s over 16 percent of the cap devoted to players who are unavailable due to injury.

This is the current list of players on the Lions injured reserve after the team placed top pass rusher Romeo Okwara and Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow on the list this week. Okwara is out for the season with a torn Achilles and Ragnow is expected to miss at least a month with a toe injury.

Player Pos. 2021 cap figure

(in millions)
Jeff Okudah CB $7.62
Taylor Decker LT $4.9
Romeo Okwara OLB $4.5
Frank Ragnow C $4.07
Tyrell Williams WR $3.0
Tim Boyle QB $2.38
Tyrell Crosby OT $2.25
Da’Shawn Hand DE $1.09
Shaun Dion Hamilton LB $.92
Ifeatu Melifownu CB $.65
Kevin Strong DE $.51
Joel Heath DT $.47

While they’re not on injured reserve, a few other Lions have either missed the Week 4 game in Chicago or appear destined to miss the Week 5 matchup in Minnesota. The most notable of those is the highest-paid player on the roster, outside linebacker Trey Flowers. He counts $19.9 million in 2021 cap room and hasn’t played in two weeks, though he is trending towards playing on Sunday.

First-round rookie Penei Sewell appears unlikely to play in Minnesota after injuring his ankle. Sewell, who starts at left tackle in place of Decker, carries a $4.38 million cap hit.

Now, factor in the Lions’ dead cap room in 2021. No team pays more to players who are no longer on the roster than the Lions, a function of the regime and scheme changes. Detroit is paying over $57 million in dead cap money to the likes of Matthew Stafford ($19 million), Justin Coleman ($6.1 million), Jamie Collins ($5.53 million) and others.

Add the dead cap money and the funds tied up in players on injured reserve and the Lions have devoted $89.8 million to guys who cannot contribute in Week 5. That’s over 45 percent of their cap spending on players who will not be suited up on Sunday — and that’s if Flowers plays. If he’s out, the figure jumps well over 55 percent.

It’s hard enough to win in the NFL with a full complement of players. The Lions are without almost half of their cap resources and a significant portion of their top talents on either side of the ball.

Lions vs Bears: Final injury report for Week 4

Detroit Lions vs Chicago Bears: Final injury report for the Week 4 matchup in the NFC North

The Detroit Lions enter the Week 4 matchup in Chicago with the NFC North rival Bears in relatively healthy condition. Only one player, starting outside linebacker Trey Flowers, has been ruled out for Detroit.

Flowers also missed Week 3 with the combination of a shoulder and knee injuries. He did not practice all week and his absence in Chicago was widely expected.

Head coach Dan Campbell was upbeat about replacing Flowers and understanding that the long-term of the veteran is more important than one single game.

“I think, to be honest with you, we’re in a pretty good place just depth-wise and it’s more – I just feel like if we are – this is the right thing for Trey, too, which in turn is also the right thing for us long-term,” Campbell said Friday. “I think if we can get him back to where he’s feeling really good, I think in the long run, that’s going to be a good thing for him and for us.”

Three Lions players are officially questionable:

  • DE Michael Brockers (shoulder)
  • OLB Romeo Okwara (shoulder)
  • RB D’Andre Swift (groin)

All three were limited participants in practices all week. Swift has been questionable for every game but has not been held back by the lingering groin issue.

The Bears have just one player ruled out, LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe. Starting safety Tashaun Gipson is doubtful, while top pass rusher Khalil Mack is among the questionable.

Lions injury report: Still no Trey Flowers in Thursday’s session

Flowers was the only Lions player that missed the entire practice due to injury

The Detroit Lions produced an injury list for Thursday that didn’t require any editing from the day before. Once again, starting outside linebacker Trey Flowers sat out the practice session completely, while three other Lions remained as limited participants.

Flowers missed the Week 3 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens with injuries to both his shoulder and knee. Charles Harris got the start in Flowers’ spot, and Julian Okwara also saw his reps increase against the Ravens. That figures to remain the same for Sunday’s trip to Chicago to face the 1-2 Bears.

Michael Brockers and Romeo Okwara each remained limited in practice with listed shoulder injuries. Running back D’Andre Swift is still limited with his groin issue, which is a case of the Lions working with load management for the young runner.

The final injury report and game designation comes after Friday’s practice.

Lions injury update: Trey Flowers out, 3 starters limited in 1st practice for Week 4

Detroit Lions injury update: Trey Flowers out, 3 starters limited in 1st practice for Week 4

The Detroit Lions defense lacked some considerable veteran presences on Wednesday. Starting outside linebacker Trey Flowers did not practice with his ongoing injuries, and two other starters from the defensive front were limited in the first session heading into the meeting with Chicago in Week 4.

Flowers continues to miss time battling both knee and shoulder injuries. The veteran did not play in the Week 3 loss to the Ravens. He was primarily replaced by Charles Harris in the Lions lineup.

Defensive end Michael Brockers and outside LB Romeo Okwara were limited for Wednesday’s practice. Both starters are listed with shoulder injuries.

Only one player from the Detroit offense, starting RB D’Andre Swift, was limited. He continues to nurse a groin injury that lingers back to the early summer. He has not missed any time in the first three weeks.

Lions final injury report for Week 3: 7 players listed as questionable

Trey Flowers and Michael Brockers are among the seven Lions designated as questionable with injuries for the Ravens game

The Detroit Lions will have a few new faces on the starting defense in Week 3 when they host the Baltimore Ravens.

We already knew rookie cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu would be out after the Lions placed him on I.R. earlier in the week. Now the team will also be without starting off-ball linebacker Jamie Collins. He is not injured but rather lost his starting job due to ineffective play.

The team is trying to trade the veteran LB, but he’s still healthy and on the roster for now. Jalen Reeves-Maybin and rookie Derrick Barnes will get the reps Collins has played in the last season-plus for Detroit.

Starting outside linebacker Trey Flowers is questionable for Sunday’s game. Flowers did not practice at all this week with both a shoulder and a knee injury. He is one of seven Lions listed as questionable for Week 3.

The rest of the questionable players on the team’s official injury report:

  • DE Michael Brockers – shoulder
  • OLB Julian Okwara – neck
  • OLB Romeo Okwara – shoulder
  • WR Kalif Raymond – thigh
  • RB D’Andre Swift – groin
  • DE Kevin Strong – thigh/concussion

The team placed WR Tyrell Williams on injured reserve this week with a concussion, so Raymond’s status is more concerning than it might appear.

 

5 things to watch for in the Lions Monday Night Football game vs. the Packers

Here are five things our Jeff Risdon will be watching closely for the Lions in Monday night’s matchup in Green Bay.

The anxious waiting is almost over, Lions fans. Playing on Monday Night Football is always fun, but the lead-up to the game creates an extra day of restless anticipation and mind-racing speculation about what might happen when the Lions travel to Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers in the Week 2 nightcap.

Expecting the Lions to pull off the unlikely upset is great to dream about, but the Packers are favored by almost two touchdowns for good reason. But there are still compelling reasons to pay close attention to the Lions even if the game goes the way the sportsbooks think it does.

Here are five things I’ll be watching closely for the Lions in Monday night’s matchup in Green Bay.