The NFC North just keeps winning as we saw yesterday with the Packers victory over the Panthers. The game included a new record for fastest ER visit in history, now owned by Christian Watson…
Apparently, Watson was able to go to the ER, obtain a chest CT to evaluate for hemoptysis (coughing up blood), receive a rib fracture diagnosis, and return to the game in about 30 minutes in full uniform.
How was Watson able to do all this? I worked in the ER for three years in residency training and there is discretion for doctors to prioritize patients. Usually priority is determined by medical necessity, but in Green Bay, football is life.
Also, there may have simply been nobody in the ER…
If any Lion needs to go to the ER on Sunday in Detroit, don’t expect such a fast turnaround. Fortunately, the team appears to be in very good health heading into the game, except for a surprise practice injury to starting CB, Roger McCreary. The Vikings also appear to be in good health as well.
Dan Campbell had a press conference today with comments on many injured players including Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, Thomas Harper, Isiah Pacheco, and Devin White. I’ll include his quotes with my analysis below.
Trends over the Week
The Lions had a surprise downgrade with Roger McCreary. There were expected upgrades over the week with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Ennis Rakestraw. Jahmyr Gibbs also avoided any significant injury last game and upgraded.
The Vikings had a practice injury with Jay Ward, but otherwise had expected upgrades to Aaron Jones, Joe Huber, and Brian O’Neill.
Lions vs Vikings Final Injury Report
🔴”Out” or “Doubtful” designation
🟡”Questionable”
🟢”In”
* Current starter
DETROIT LIONS (open -3, current -3.5)
🔴 *Kerby Joseph, S - Left knee
Projection: If all goes well, his earliest action may come on November 15 vs the Patriots.
The big news this week with Kerby Joseph was of course that he deactivated his X/Twitter account again. Remember, he did this last year as well. For posterity, here are some of his final tweets before returning to practice.
As far as Kerby on the practice field, he was wearing a leg or knee sleeve during practice on Thursday, after not wearing one on Wednesday.
A compression sleeve can be used for many reasons (including psychological comfort), but the main concern here is if there is swelling. If it’s muscle soreness and swelling, that’s to be expected, and not an issue at all. If it’s mild knee joint swelling, then that raises concern. There can’t have been any major joint swelling, otherwise he probably would not have practiced on Thursday or Friday.
Dan Campbell had this to say about Kerby Joseph’s sleeve:
“You’re always going to try to any way you can reduce any swelling that could be or minimize it, you’re always going to do that with anything, people coming off of injuries. We’re in the infant stages of this. It’s been positive to this date.”
We don’t know if there was actually any swelling, or if the sleeve was there just in case. That is a key unknown distinction.
What is Kerby’s projected return date if all goes well? Day 19 of the window falls on November 15 vs the Patriots in Germany. This year, both Cade Mays and Brian Branch returned on Day 19 of their windows. Last year, the median return-to-play was Day 16 of the window.
As far as the long plane flight to Europe, I don’t think that should impact anything. Yes, a plane flight can exacerbate leg swelling, but it’s not the swelling that is the issue - it’s what is causing the swelling (knee cartilage damage), which shouldn’t be impacted by a charter flight with relaxed seating rules.
If Kerby is not ready by November 15, I would not expect Kerby’s first action to come the next game on November 22 as there is a short turnaround to Thanksgiving. Thus, Thanksgiving is another possible date for his return, which would give him a nice mini-bye to recover.
🟡 *Roger McCreary, CB - Foot
Projection: Uncertain
A practice injury can be a concern, as the severity is unknown. We saw the same scenario with DJ Reed before Week 2 when he had a practice foot injury and was questionable for the game. Reed’s injury was minor and he played. Hopefully, the same is true for McCreary and he just got stepped on or something insignificant like that.
McCreary played 100% of snaps last game, so his loss would be significant.
🟢 *Jahmyr Gibbs, RB - Suspected right AC joint sprain
A reader gave me this tip on the moment of injury…
Here is the video showing a likely right AC joint sprain due to the mechanism of landing on the shoulder with the arm tucked against the body.
An AC joint sprain is usually not a big deal and can be played through - even a Type 3. A numbing injection can be given for pain if desired.
Severity for Gibbs is likely mild given that he had full practices the final two days of this week. I expect no limitations for him on Sunday. However, as my daughter has been saying for weeks now, “We should stop spamming Gibbs.”
It’s not just his touches that add risk, as this reader correctly points out…
🟢 *Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR - Ankle
I’m not sure which ankle is the injured one, as I didn’t find anything significant on video review. I don’t expect any limitations on Sunday.
🟢 Ennis Rakestraw, CB - Left ankle
It’s the left ankle that is the issue for Rakestraw, as deduced in my Initial Injury Report Analysis. I’m suspecting a mild low-ankle sprain like the one he suffered in preseason. If McCreary can’t go, we probably see Rakestraw get his first starting role of his career.
🟢 Jacob Saylors, RB - Neck
Fortunately, Saylors neck ended up being minor.
🟢 *Tyleik Williams, DT - Illness
🟢 *Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE - Rest
🟢 *Alim McNeill, EDGE - Rest
🟢 *Penei Sewell, LT - Rest
🟢 *DJ Wonnum, EDGE - Rest
Notables Unlisted
🟢*Brian Branch, S - Dan Campbell today stated that there are “no limitations on him going into this game.” Last game, Branch played 67% of snaps. This Sunday, he may get close to his typical 100%.
🔴Thomas Harper, S - Dan Campbell today stated: “If we need him or on-call, he’s close to being ready to go. It’s just a matter of… you start that clock and then you keep going here a little bit and you don’t need him, then you got to IR him.” Basically, it sounds like Harper could come off IR at any time, but he’s staying on there for roster management, because he wouldn’t get much playing time if he came back right now anyway. Brian Branch, Chuck Clark, and Keith Abney are ahead on the depth chart.
🔴Isiah Pacheco, RB - After back surgery for a nerve impingement in August, he was placed on IR. The initial reported return timeline was possibly early December. Today, Dan Campbell stated: “He’s progressing well. I do think there’s a chance we could get him back in late December, mid December.”
🔴Devin White, LB - He’s been on IR since his forearm fracture on October 11. There is a good chance he’s ready by the end of November. Today, Dan Campbell stated that White is “doing pretty good.” Complications or setbacks with a forearm fracture are very unlikely, and Dan’s comments confirm that recovery is going well.
🟢*Tate Ratledge, RG - Last game, he was in visible pain with what I’m suspecting is a recurrent right stinger issue. Good news that he was not on the injury report all week.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
🟡 Jay Ward, S - Knee
Ward has played almost exclusively on special teams over the first six weeks.
🟢 *Aaron Jones, RB - Knee
This past Sunday, Jones may have aggravated an MCL injury from earlier. While he is going to play, his health is something to watch. Jones has 436 yards rushing this season.
🟢 *Joe Huber, OG - Knee
Huber has started in place of Donovan Jackson, who was lost for the season in Week 4.
🟢 *Brian O’Neill, OT - Knee
O’Neill played 100% of snaps last game.
🟢 Gavin Bartholomew, TE - Ankle
🟢 *Christian Darrisaw, OT - Rest
🟢 *Harrison Smith, S - Rest
Notables Unlisted
🔴*Donovan Jackson, OG - This starter is out for the season after a meniscus injury in Week 4.
🔴Josh Oliver, TE - A torn biceps in Week 3 put him on IR.