Lions vs Bears - FINAL injury report (Week 18, 2025)
To Tank or not to Tank, that is the question
Finally, the final injury report of the 2025 season is upon us. After a December to not remember, here’s hoping that January is a bit more merry.
That means getting through this game healthy so there isn’t any more carryover to the 2026 season - see Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, and Sam LaPorta.
It doesn’t appear that Dan Campbell is going full tank-mode though…
Frank the Tank!
-Old School
Campbell has already stated that Jared Goff will play. But even if he plays the key guys, there are things that can be done from a game management standpoint to decrease injury risk:
Quick passes to get the ball out of Goff’s hands - especially with Sewell out.
No scrambling or extending plays by Goff.
Limit the number of overall plays. Let the play clock run down. Don’t call time outs to squeeze out an extra possession.
Distribute more snaps to backups and developing players. Looking at you, Aidan and Amon-Ra.
Final injury report
Lions starters out
Out: Brian Branch, S
Out: Terrion Arnold, CB
Out: Sam LaPorta, TE
Out: Kerby Joseph, S
Out: Alex Anzalone, LB
Out: Penei Sewell, OT
Out: Alim McNeill, DT
Likely in: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR
(NP - no practice, LP - limited practice, FP - full practice)
DETROIT LIONS (line +3)
OUT
Alim McNeill, DT (abdomen) starter
McNeill is out as expected after aggravating his abdomen last game. I’m not expecting a major issue with the abdomen going into the offseason. An oblique strain would be a common, benign possibility.
Alex Anzalone, LB (concussion) starter
No surprise that Anzalone will miss this game 10 days post-concussion. No reason to risk another concussion going into free agency.
Thomas Harper, S (concussion)
Like with Anzalone, no surprise to see Harper miss this game, especially since it’s his 2nd concussion in a month.
Penei Sewell, OT (left ankle) starter
With NP’s all week and already ruled out for Sunday, the likelihood of a left high ankle sprain rises. He was able to finish the last game which should signify a milder severity. A higher severity could need tightrope surgery.
Trystan Colon, OG/C (wrist)
Colon will miss the last 3 games of the season.
QUESTIONABLE
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR (knee/ankle) starter
Projection: Lean in
We don’t know the diagnosis, but the good news here is that neither the ankle or knee are anything overly serious.
It sounds like Saint is trending to play, but I’m hoping prudence wins the day and he sits out - especially after knee surgery this past offseason.
Taylor Decker, LT (right shoulder/illness) starter
Projection: In
If this is the last game for Decker, it’s been a quite a run. While Bob Quinn’s tenure did not end well, he knocked it out of the park with his first ever pick.
Giovanni Manu, OT (knee)
Projection: Out
Dan Campbell basically ruled him out on Friday: “I don’t see playing him this last one”.
Manu has not played since October 5 due to this unspecified knee.
Christian Mahogany, OG (illness) starter
Projection: In
The 2 LP to finish the week are a good sign. He should start his 3rd straight game after missing about 2 months with a fibula fracture.
Kayode Awosika, OG (illness)
Projection: In
The 2 LP to finish the week is probably good enough to be ready for Sunday.
IN
Avonte Maddox, S (back/illness)
Good news that there was nothing serious going on after missing 1 game.
Notables unlisted
Brock Wright and Zach Cunningham never made it off IR despite being seen working out in mid-December. The fact that the Lions are out of it may have been a deciding factor.
For the Lions up-to-date IR/PUP/NFI summary click here. You can also always find this link at the top of my home page.