Almost a third of the season is over, and the Detroit Lions are entering their bye week. It’s time to review the health status of the entire team as the playoff push gets underway.
For up-to-date overviews throughout the year, visit:
The following are the active injury issues on the Lions’ roster - labeled according to tiers of impact on the team, which combines injury severity with player importance.
🔴High impact
🟡Moderate impact
🟢Low impact
*Starter
Overall Summary of Lions Team Health
The Lions are a very healthy team right now - a welcome change from the past couple seasons. There have been minimal high-impact injuries this season, and key starters are returning soon in Cade Mays and Brian Branch. However, there is still most of the season remaining, so cue knock on wood…
Injury Residuals From 2025 Season
🔴*Kerby Joseph, S - Suspected left knee cartilage (July 2025)
Games missed: 5
Projected Return-to-play (RTP): Uncertain
Joseph’s last NFL game was over 12 months ago on October 12, 2025. There is a very realistic chance he does not return this season. Even if he does, it’s highly uncertain how well his knee can function and how long it can last.
🔴*Brian Branch, S - Achilles rupture (December 4, 2025)
Games missed: 5
Projected RTP: October 25, Week 7
After missing the first five games, Branch should be back for Game 6. That’s not a bad outcome for a late-season Achilles rupture. The big question is what he will look like when he returns. I’m cautiously optimistic that he will be close to or the same playmaking safety that we’ve seen in the past…
Active Injury Issues From This Season
🔴*Cade Mays, C - Right wrist fracture (August 9)
Games missed: 5
Projected RTP: October 25, Week 7
Mays was the Lions’ prized free-agent signing this past offseason and should make his season debut after the bye. If he can help the Lions’ offensive line become dominant once again, the offense has the potential to carry this team all the way to the Super Bowl.
🔴Isiah Pacheco, RB - Back nerve injury (August 20)
Games missed: 5
Projected RTP: Early December, Week 13, at best.
Pacheco was signed this past offseason to be the David Montgomery replacement and take some of the load off Jahmyr Gibbs. However, after suffering an MCL sprain in the preseason, he sustained a back injury that required nerve decompression surgery. Most, if not all, of his season will be lost.
🟡Thomas Harper, S - Ankle (September 17)
Games missed: 3
Projected RTP: Uncertain. Early November, at best.
Harper would be in the mix to start at safety if healthy. However, this Week 2 injury landed him on IR, with the earliest eligible return date being Week 8.
It’s uncertain when he might return, as there are worrisome signs that this ankle issue may be a recurrence of an injury stemming from August. Sometimes an ankle designation is actually an Achilles strain, which can have an unpredictable and long recovery.
🟡Devin White, LB - Left forearm fracture (October 11)
Games missed: 0
Projected RTP: Late November or early December, Week 12-13
White had been in and out of the lineup this season as the Lions tried to figure out how to cover the middle of the field. He was back in as a starter for this last game in which he broke his forearm. He should be a full-go within two months.
🟢*Blake Miller, RT - Unspecified left knee (October 11)
Games missed: 1 (unrelated)
Projected RTP: October 25, Week 7
The Lions’ 1st-round pick was wearing a left knee brace late in the last game after possibly getting rolled up on. Dan Campbell reassured afterwards that this injury is not significant.
Miller missed Week 2 of the season for another knee injury with unknown relation, and his absence was noticeable. His performance has been excellent so far as a rookie.
🟢Ben Bartch, OG - Unspecified foot (September 17)
Games missed: 3
Projected RTP: Late October or early November, Week 7-9
This backup OG has missed the last three games. However, he was not placed on IR, which implies a short-term injury. The worry here is for a recurrent problem with his Lisfranc injury, which required surgery in December 2025.
🟢Rock Ya-Sin, CB - Hamstring (October 4)
Games missed: 0
Projected RTP: Late October or November, Week 7-9
Ya-Sin lost his starting job, but is still valuable in case injuries mount. He was not placed on IR, suggesting a mild severity.
🟢Giovanni Manu, OT - Unknown injury (July)
Games missed: 5
Projected RTP: November or December
Manu was placed on NFI at the start of training camp. His injury is unknown, but his initial timeline was 12-14 weeks. While he was in contention for a backup OT role, it’s possible he may not have even made the roster.
🟢Mason Miller, G/C - Unknown injury (September 7)
Games missed: 5
Projected RTP: Uncertain
Miller has been on the practice squad/injured list all season for unknown reasons. The Lions may just be stashing him there for roster management.
Key Players Out For The Year
🟡Avonte Maddox, S - Left foot (September 17)
Games missed: 3
Maddox was briefly a starter for the Lions until this foot injury in Week 2. Given the poor play of the secondary, he may not have retained his starting role, but would still have been valuable as a veteran backup. He has undergone surgery with an unknown diagnosis and is very likely out for the year.
🟡Kendrick Law, WR - ACL (June 2)
Games missed: 5
This 5th-round rookie was poised to be the Lions’ returner this season until an ACL tear wiped out his season.
🟡Tom Kennedy, WR - Right MCL (October 11)
Games missed: 0
Kennedy will need surgery for his MCL injury and is out for the season. He was one of the Lions’ primary returners. The Lions have since signed DeAndre Carter, presumably to fill the void.
..."the offense has the potential to carry this team all the way to the Super Bowl."...not without a better "D". As I recall in recent SB's, defense was the primary weapon.