The Detroit Lions emerge from their bye in excellent health as they take on the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. All Lions starters will be available to play on Sunday (unless you count Kerby Joseph). For the first time this season, starters Brian Branch and Cade Mays will play. There were no surprises for the Lions on the initial report, which is always welcome news.
The Packers beat Dallas last week and appeared to have a pretty healthy game. However, there are numerous key players for the Packers on IR or recovering from last season’s injuries including EDGE Micah Parsons, WR Jayden Reed, LB Edgerrin Cooper, and DT Javon Hargrave.
Here is the initial injury report analysis including some news today on Kerby Joseph and Sam LaPorta.
Lions vs Packers Week 7 Initial Injury Report
Because of the bye, the Lions held their practice on Tuesday this week instead of Wednesday.
🔴No practice (NP)
🟡Limited practice (LP)
🟢Full practice (FP)
*Current starter
DETROIT LIONS (open -3)
🟡 Rock Ya-Sin, CB - Hamstring (October 4)
Projection: Lean out
The severity of Ya-Sin’s hamstring was previously unknown, but with this LP, we now know it’s on the mild side. He has missed only one game so far due to the hamstring and seems to have a fair chance of being available for Sunday. Since he was only a special teams player in his last game, the Lions may slow-play his return.
🟢 *Brian Branch, S - Right Achilles (December 4, 2025)
Projection: In
Dan Campbell has already confirmed that Branch’s middle fingers are ready for game action vs the Packers.
His Achilles is also ready, so expect Branch to play a full workload.
🟢 Cade Mays, C - Right wrist fracture (August 9)
Projection: In
Dan Campbell confirmed on the radio today that Mays will be starting at center on Sunday and play full-time. This comes as no surprise after Campbell’s comments two days ago.
Notables Unlisted
🟢Blake Miller (RT) is not on the report after an unspecified left knee injury (possible mild MCL) in the last game. See Miller’s knee injury video in my previous story.
🟢DJ Reed (CB) is not on the report after playing through a possible right biceps contusion last game.
🟢Tyleik Williams’ (DT) foot is off the report. He entered last game with a minor foot issue, but played.
🟢DJ Wonnum’s (EDGE) back is off the report after being on it for the past two games. He’s had five sacks in his past three games, so maybe the Lions should just keep him on the report for good luck.
🔴Kerby Joseph (S) is still on the PUP list and posted a rehab video of himself today. It’s good to see him active, but we already knew that he was doing some stuff behind-the-scenes. Here is his video at full speed unedited…
There appears to be a slightly awkward step past the line each time, where he takes a short step with his left leg and then a lunge step with his right. It is the left knee that is the injured one. Here is a side by side edit at 25% speed…
Is this awkward-looking step related to a weakness in the left knee or is it purposeful? I’m not sure.
Regardless, the issue is not if his left knee can do some drills, but rather how it responds afterwards. If there is no swelling and discomfort, great, keep ramping it up. But if there comes a point in the ramp-up where there is swelling and discomfort, then he’ll need to shut it back down.
That was the scenario last December when he practiced once at the beginning of the week for two weeks, but was unable to practice the entire rest of each week. See the full Kerby Joseph knee injury timeline in my story here.
🟢Sam LaPorta (TE) was on the Pardon My Take podcast and had this to say:
“I break my fucking back for the team, and then I’m going out there this year, and I’m balling, and maybe they’re just not showing the love. So, it sucks.
In three months if I don’t get to wear the Honolulu Blue and play for the Lions anymore, it’s going to be all good. I’ll go get paid somewhere else.”
If it wasn’t for the spine injury that required a microdiscectomy, then LaPorta may already be signed by now. In September, Brad Holmes said about Branch and LaPorta: “We still want to keep those guys around. There’s a couple factors that we still got to sort through.”
As I wrote in a July mailbag, I think the Lions want a contract that protects themselves in case LaPorta’s spine issue recurs - by way of fewer guarantees, more production incentives, etc. While it’s easy to say “pay LaPorta” when he’s healthy and playing great, the Lions are being smart by thinking about the long-term future. They don’t want a nightmare cap situation like what is going on with Kerby Joseph.
Green Bay Packers
🔴Bo Melton, WR - Back
🟡*Jordan Love, QB - Back
There is no availability concern here. Love will play.
🟡*Christian Watson, WR - Ankle
Watson hurt his right ankle or Achilles area last game.
🟡*Matthew Golden, WR - Shoulder
🟡*Savion Williams, WR - Ankle
🟡*Brandon Cisse, CB - Shoulder/neck
Cisse appeared to have a right arm stinger last game. Presumably his cervical imaging has been negative, and the LP signals he should be ready to play.
🟡*Aaron Banks, G - Knee/toe
🟡Anthony Campbell, DT - Ankle
🟡Jordon Riley, DT - Achilles
Riley had his 21-day practice window opened last Wednesday, so he probably won’t be ready yet for the Lions. He ruptured his Achilles on December 27, 2025.
🟡Benjamin St-Juste, CB - Hamstring
Notables Unlisted
🔴*Micah Parsons (EDGE) is still recovering from his December 14 ACL tear, which included meniscus damage.
🟢Josh Jacobs (RB) could play for the first time this year after missing six games on the commissioner exempt list due to an off-the-field incident. He is an electric running back who can make a big difference.
🔴*Jayden Reed (WR) suffered a spine injury in Week 2 that may have caused a temporary paralysis. He is on IR.
🔴*Zach Bako-Bewele (RT) ruptured his patellar tendon in Week 2 and is out for the year.
🔴*Edgerrin Cooper (LB) ruptured his Achilles in Week 4. He already had three sacks on the year.
🔴Chris Brooks (RB) was placed on IR after Week 4 with an ankle sprain. This backup RB had 70 rushing yards this season.
🔴*Javon Hargrave (DT) ruptured his Achilles in Week 5 and was put on IR. He had been playing about 50% of defensive snaps.
🔴Jonathan Ford (DT) had a calf injury in Week 5 that landed him on IR. He was playing around 20-40% of defensive snaps.