The Detroit Lions head into their Week 4 Sunday Night Football matchup versus the Carolina Panthers with a significant health advantage. Just this past weekend, the Panthers lost several major players due to injuries, including their two starting cornerbacks. They also have key players still out from significant injuries over the past year, including starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu. Multiple other starting offensive linemen were hurt in Week 3 and are likely out for Sunday.
The Lions, on the other hand, are coming off an extremely healthy Week 3 game vs the Jets (see the happy Postgame Injury Report), and have been generally healthy this entire calendar year. Yes, this is a welcome change for Lions fans after a couple of rough seasons.
That said, the Lions’ initial injury report frequently reveals surprises, and there were a couple today in DJ Wonnum and DJ Reed. I don’t have significant concerns for either at this time.
The current betting line favors the Lions by 3.5, and the line could continue to move even further towards the Lions due to the health disparities between the teams.
Lions vs Panthers Initial Injury Report
🔴No practice (NP)
🟡Limited practice (LP)
🟢Full practice (FP)
*Current starter
DETROIT LIONS
(open -2.5, current -3.5)
🔴 *DJ Wonnum, EDGE - Back
Projection: In
Wonnum was in until the final defensive play last game with no signs of any problems, and played 67% of snaps. Maybe his back is just tired from having a great game and sacking Geno Smith twice.
At this point, I see no reason for concern… but then again, that’s what I said last year with Sam LaPorta’s back. Hopefully, we see Wonnum get up to at least an LP tomorrow.
🔴 Ben Bartch, OG - Foot
Projection: Out
Bartch missed the last game with this foot. While it was good news that Bartch didn’t land on IR last week, there are still major concerns with this foot injury, as it could be related to his Lisfranc surgery from last December. An NP to start this week isn’t a good sign. There is still a chance he could go on IR.
🟡 DJ Reed, CB - Rib
Projection: In
Reed played 94% of snaps last game, including the final defensive snap. He had a physical game covering Garrett Wilson.
A “rib” here likely means a rib soft tissue strain or a rib cartilage injury. A rib fracture is a possibility also, which can be played through. We saw Alex Anzalone play through three(!) rib fractures in 2023…
Today’s LP is reassuring that Reed’s injury is nothing significant. He should be ready for Sunday night.
Notables Unlisted (*Starter when healthy)
🟢 *Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR - Many fans noticed that St. Brown was slow coming off the field at multiple points last game. On Monday, Dan Campbell acknowledged he was dealing with something minor. It must have been very minor as it didn’t even earn a listing on the injury report today.
🔴 *Brian Branch, S - On PUP with right Achilles. He was eligible to open his 21-day practice window last week. Now, at the start of this week, the window is still not open, which is a slight disappointment. There is still a chance he starts practicing later this week though. His earliest projected RTP at this point would be Week 7 (October 25) vs the Packers… if he starts practicing this week. If he doesn’t practice this week, then Week 8 (November 1) vs the Vikings might be his earliest possible game.
🔴 *Kerby Joseph, S - On PUP with left knee. Like with Branch, Joseph can open his 21-day practice window at any time. I’ll have a full mailbag on Joseph tomorrow. Projected RTP: Uncertain.
🔴 *Cade Mays, C - The Lions’ original starting center is on IR with a wrist fracture. He is eligible to open his practice window after this Week 4 Panthers game. On Monday, Dan Campbell implied that he might be ready to play after the Week 6 bye. Projected RTP: Week 7.
🔴 Isiah Pacheco, RB - On IR with back surgery. Projected RTP: Early December, if all goes well.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
🔴 Darren Waller, TE - Rest/toe
🔴 *Jalen Coker, WR - Quad
Coker suffered this quad injury in Week 3. He is leading the team in receiving this year with 222 yards on 18 receptions.
🔴 *Xavier Legette, WR - Knee
Legette missed last game due to this injury.
🔴 *Damien Lewis, OG - Elbow
This starting guard has already been ruled out with an elbow UCL suffered in Week 3. Corey Bullock likely gets the start.
🔴 Princely Umanmielen, LB - Ankle
🔴 *Chuba Hubbard, RB - Rest
🔴 *Monroe Freeling, OT - Concussion
An early week NP is not a good sign for availability with a concussion.
🟢 *Bryce Young, QB - Knee
Young had imaging after this Week 3 injury, and the results must have been good. On video, I saw his right knee come down hard onto the turf. The imaging likely was to check for a PCL sprain among other things. With an FP today, the injury is likely just a simple contusion.
🟢 *Nick Scott, S - Rib
🟢 *Devin Lloyd, LB - Calf
Notables Unlisted (*Starter when healthy)
🔴*Nic Scourton, LB - ACL on July 23, 2026.
🔴*Ikem Ekwonu, LT - Patella tendon rupture on January 11, 2026, on PUP.
🔴*Jaycee Horn, CB - Torn quad in Week 3, on IR
🔴*Mike Jackson, CB - Groin injury in Week 3, on IR.
🔴Chris Brazzell, WR - LCL surgery, on IR.
🔴Jonathan Brooks, RB - Core muscle surgery after Week 2, on IR.