After an enjoyable Thursday evening watching the Green Bay Packers go down in flames to a winless Atlanta Falcons team, we now turn our attention to the Detroit Lions… who are not without their own problems.
Hopefully, Lions fans aren’t having to check for signs of life after Sunday’s game vs the New York Jets…
The good news for the Lions so far this season is that they have stayed generally healthy. (Cue, knock on wood). Most importantly, the QB is healthy (which can’t be said for many other teams already, as analyzed in yesterday’s story). Over the past four seasons, the Lions and Goff have been at the top of the league at maintaining health at the QB position…
What will help keep Goff healthy is the return of LG Christian Mahogany and RT Blake Miller to the offensive line this week. Only a single key starter has been lost this season across the entire team in center Cade Mays… with the acknowledgement that the residual injury carryover of safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph from last season is a major factor right now.
Hopefully, the Lions can continue their good health. To help this happen, the coaching staff needs to spread out the snap counts, as I analyzed earlier this week in the Lions vs Jets Initial Injury Report story. Now, onto the final injury report…
Lions vs Jets Final Injury Report
Dan Campbell also had a press conference today, of which important quotes are included below.
🔴”Out” or “Doubtful” designation
🟡”Questionable”
🟢”In”
*Current starter
DETROIT LIONS (open -6.5, current -6.5)
🔴 Thomas Harper, S - Ankle
Today, Dan Campbell said “Izien’s got a ton of reps, full-speed reps. I don’t know about Harp, I don’t know if he’s going to make it to the game. Abney sprinkles back there as a reserve.”
Harper was spotted in a boot on Wednesday which was a strong sign that he’d be out this Sunday. A boot immediately after a game is one thing. A boot six days after a game is another.
It’s uncertain when this ankle injury occurred, as he played until the end of the last game without issue. Recall that he also had an ankle issue last month that kept him out 2-3 weeks. If this is the same ankle problem, that’s a reliability concern moving forward.
The ankle is not the only reliability concern for Harper, who had two December concussions last year. Fortunately, he’s been able to avoid a concussion so far this season.
Christian Izien will get the start and hopefully, he can be one of the solutions at safety moving forward… until Brian Branch returns in late October or November. It was interesting to note that 5th-round rookie Keith Abney may get some time at safety, according to Dan Campbell.
🔴 Ben Bartch, OG - Foot
Today, Dan Campbell said regarding Bartch: “I don’t think long-term, but it doesn’t look good for this week.” He didn’t directly answer whether Bartch’s current foot issue is related to his Lisfranc surgery from last year.
I’m suspecting it is, which would raise significant reliability concerns for the rest of this season. The lack of any practices this week adds to the concern. If this is his Lisfranc again, he could go on IR this weekend.
🟢 *Christian Mahogany, LG - Hip & left knee
Week 1:
Mahogany got a Friday full practice and is back after missing just one game. That’s an excellent outcome after the scary left knee injury, as well as an unspecified hip injury which might be just a mild muscle strain.
🟢 *Blake Miller, RT - Knee
Miller had a mild knee issue (MCL?) and missed the last game, but he is ready to go after a full practice on Friday. Let’s hope this is a (stuttered) beginning of a 54-game consecutive start streak like he had in college.
🟢 *Tate Ratledge, RG - Elbow
As expected, the elbow is nothing major. He got a full practice on Friday and is in.
🟢 *Alim McNeill, DT - Personal
🟢 Ahmed Hassanein, EDGE - Illness
Hassanein has been a healthy inactive the first two weeks. After an impressive preseason, it would be nice to see him get some snaps in a real game.
🟢 *Hogan Hatten, LS - Wrist
NOTABLES UNLISTED
Visit my regularly-updated Lions IR/PUP/NFI tracker for more on the following players. (*Starter when healthy)
🔴 Avonte Maddox, S - This starter for the first two weeks was put on IR this week due to a left foot surgery. He’s almost certainly out for the season.
🔴 *Cade Mays, C - The Lions’ original starting center is on IR with a wrist fracture. He could be back to practice in just two weeks. Projected RTP: Week 5-7.
🔴 Isiah Pacheco, RB - On IR with back surgery. Projected RTP: Early December, if all goes well.
🔴 *Kerby Joseph, S - On PUP with left knee. Projected RTP: Uncertain.
🔴 *Brian Branch, S - On PUP with right Achilles. Not opening his 21-day practice window this week pushes his projected RTP to Week 7-9.
NEW YORK JETS
🔴 Minkah Fitzpatrick, S - Groin
This long-time veteran star safety could be a big loss. He has 21 interceptions in his 9-year career.
🔴 Francisco Mauigoa, LB - Quad
Mauigoa has only played on special teams this season.
🔴 Mason Taylor, TE - Thumb
This 2nd-string TE has 2 receptions on the year for negative 2 yards. Hmmm, maybe the Lions’ defense wishes he was playing.
🔴 Kene Nwangwu, RB - Back
Nwangwu has not appeared in a game this year. The Jets starting RB is the healthy Breece Hall.
🟡 Adonai Mitchell, WR - Finger
This speedy WR has 9 receptions for 123 yards this season. His finger injury suffered this week in practice could hurt the Jets WR group even more. See below for the other WRs on IR. The Jets top WR is Garrett Wilson, who is healthy.
🟡 Joseph Ossai, EDGE - Foot
Ossai has not played in a game this year.
🟢 David Bailey, EDGE - Elbow
The #2 overall pick in the 2026 draft already has two sacks on the season.
NOTABLES UNLISTED
🔴 David Onyemata, starting DT, had core muscle surgery this past week and is out for a while.
🔴 Depth WRs Arian Smith (ACL), Omar Cooper (ankle), and former Lion Tim Patrick (groin) are on IR.
Let’s send you into the weekend with my favorite picture of Tim Patrick…
