Lions IR list update - December 9, 2025
Christian Mahogany returns and Brad Holmes gets creative
With Christian Mahogany’s imminent return this week (and sadly Brian Branch’s imminent departure), let’s update the Lions IR (injured reserve) list to see where we stand entering the final 4 games of the regular season.
Mahogany will be the Lions 6th IR-return this season. Teams are allowed 8 in the regular season plus a bonus 2 for the playoffs. At this point, there is minimal to no risk of running out of IR-returns. Remember that with any new injuries, the Lions can always carry a key player on the roster (see Kerby Joseph) instead of putting him on IR.
Last season’s IR-return summary
Despite the rash of injuries in 2024, the Lions only used 7 returns in the regular season… and 2 of them were for Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle/Achilles & hand).
Ennis Rakestraw returned in the playoffs for a total of 8 returns out of an allowable 10. If the Lions made the Super Bowl, Aidan Hutchinson and Carlton Davis were the possible final 2 returns.
2025 possible future returns
With 2 returns left for the regular season, here the most likely possibilities…
Giovanni Manu, OT is a possible return from his unspecified knee injury. The only thing we know is that it’s not definitively a season-ender like a complete ACL rupture. Getting him back would hopefully aide his development in the hopes he can become a future starting OT. With Taylor Decker openly opining about retirement, finding a replacement is a big priority.
Zach Cunningham, LB landed on IR due to his 2nd hamstring. Severity here is unknown. The Lions are very healthy at the LB position right now, especially with Malcolm Rodriguez’s return, so there may not be much urgency to return Cunningham.
Brock Wright, TE is a possible return from his trachea. He can’t return until Week 18, so the Lions could always wait until the playoffs if they ran out of regular season returns.
Sam LaPorta, TE is reportedly out for the season but many readers are hopeful for a surprise late return. Without details of his back diagnosis and surgery, it’s hard to say the likelihood of this. We do know that many players have come back very early in their recovery to play in the Super Bowl (Terrell Owens, Thomas Davis, Brandon Graham).
Did Brad Holmes get creative to preserve an IR-return?
On December 8, the Lions announced the signing of Pat O’Connor to the practice squad. This was notable because he had been placed on IR on November 14 and released with injury settlement on November 15.
It seems like the Lions found a way to put him on IR and bring him back without using an IR-return. There was a risk of him signing with another team in the meantime, but as many readers pointed out, there may have been a handshake deal.
This is very similar to what we saw earlier in the season with 6th-round rookie Ahmed Hassanein who was waived with an injury settlement in the preseason and then signed back to the practice squad 2.5 months later. This would make 2 IR-returns that Brad Holmes has saved using this strategy.
Full injury list summary
*Mahogany and Branch are presumed
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: 6 - Mahogany, 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 with injury settlement on Nov 15. Signed back to practice squad on Dec 8. I don’t believe this counts as an IR-return.
returned Christian Mahogany, OG (suspected left fibula fracture, Nov 2) - His target game may be Dec 21 vs Steelers or Dec 25 vs Vikings.
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 (left 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 & possible shoulder, 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)