2025 IR/PUP/NFI summary
PUP (physically unable to perform) / NFI (non football injury)
Alim McNeill, DT (ACL) - Returned to play Oct 20 (Day 20 of window)
Malcolm Rodriguez, LB (ACL) - Returned to play Nov 23 (Day 27 post window)
Josh Paschal, EDGE (back) - Window opened Nov 5. Was not activated which ends his season.
Miles Frazier, OG (knee) - Returned to play Dec 4 (Day 30 post window).
IR (injured reserve) - eligible to return this season
(Rules recap: There is no limit to the number of players that can be placed on IR. Must stay on IR for minimum 4 games. Only 8 are allowed to return during regular season plus bonus 2 for the playoffs. Last season, Lions used 7 returns during regular season and 1 during playoffs.)
Eligible return dates:
Week 11 vs Eagles (Nov 16): Giovanni Manu
Week 12 vs Giants (Nov 23):
Week 13 vs Packers (Nov 27): Zach Cunningham
Week 14 vs Cowboys (Dec 4): Christian Mahogany
current Week 15 vs Rams (Dec 14): Sam LaPorta
Week 16 vs Steelers (Dec 21):
Week 17 vs Vikings (Dec 25)
Week 18 vs Bears (TBD): Terrion Arnold, Brock Wright
Playoff Week 1: Brian Branch
IR returns: 5 - Zylstra, Thomas, Reed, Davenport, Dorsey
IR players:
Brian Branch, S (Achilles, Dec 4) - Out for season
Brock Wright, TE (trachea, Nov 23) - Unknown prognosis
Terrion Arnold, CB (right shoulder, Dec 1) - Right shoulder surgery and out for season.
Sam LaPorta, TE (back, Nov 9) - Unspecified back surgery and almost certainly out for the season.
Pat O’Connor, DT (knee, Nov 2) - Placed on IR Nov 14, then released on Nov 15. Signed back to practice squad on Dec 8. I don’t believe this counts as an IR-return.
Christian Mahogany, OG (suspected left fibula fracture, Nov 2) - He is hopeful to return to action in late December.
Zach Cunningham, LB (hamstring, Oct 20) - In his first game back from a hamstring first suffered at the end of September, he presumably injured it again.
Giovanni Manu, OT (knee, Oct 9) - Presumably hurt himself in practice. On Nov 5, Dan Campbell stated: “Gio’s still a few weeks out. I don’t see us starting him within the next week or two.”
returned Khalil Dorsey, CB (wrist, Oct 3) - Returned to play Nov 23 (Day 4 of window)
returned DJ Reed, CB (left hamstring, Sep 28) - Returned to play Nov 23 (Day 12 of window)
returned Daniel Thomas, S (forearm fracture, Sep 22) - Returned to play November 9 (Day 14 of window)
returned Marcus Davenport, EDGE (right pec strain, Sep 14) - Returned to play Nov 27 (Day 16 of window).
returned Shane Zylstra, TE (suspected right high ankle sprain + knee, Sep 14) - His window opened on Dec 1.
Jamarco Jones, OT (ankle, Sep 4) - Eligible to return anytime, but was ruled out for season.
Ezekiel Turner, LB (Achilles, Aug 23) - Eligible to return anytime but suspected to not be returning. Note: there is uncertainty whether Turner was actually designated eligible to return on the cutdown date.
IR - NOT eligible to return this season (key players listed)
Ennis Rakestraw, CB (shoulder)
Levi Onwuzurike, DT (ACL)
Kenny Yeboah, TE (unspecified)
Colby Sorsdal, OG (leg)
Justin Herron, OT (arm)
Dan Jackson, S (leg)