Lions vs Bears - Initial injury report (Week 18, 2025)
...and a Happy New Year!
The initial injury report for this final week has minimal importance due to the game having no importance. The most important thing is to avoid any major surprises that could blow up in our faces on New Year’s Eve.
Fortunately, here is the only surprise:
Amon-Ra St. Brown: Ankle in addition to known knee. Concern level low.
It’s a nice way to end a disappointing 2025 for Lions fans, who are certainly looking forward to a fresh start in the New Year…
Don’t you just love New Years?
You get to start all over.
Everybody gets a second chance.
Hoping all Lions fans have a happy New Year… and are a little more excited for it than Lieutenant Dan.
A different morose Dan (Campbell) had an update on Sam LaPorta on New Years Eve:
You’d like to believe training camp we’ll get him. But you’re talking about a back. Took a lot of stress off that nerve, so we'll see.
I’ll have more on this later, but the revelation of nerve compression and the uncertain availability for training camp (7 months away!) are concerning. A disc problem or a spondylolysis become more likely. Less likely now are the better-case scenarios of a transverse process fracture or spinous process fracture.
While the LaPorta update was a downer, there was a more optimistic update by Terrion Arnold.
There aren’t any details but a reader relays that the 2nd surgery was also on a shoulder - presumably the same right side that was injured, but this isn’t certain.
Hopefully, we get more information on Terrion’s shoulder soon.
Initial injury report
Lions starters out
Out: Brian Branch, S
Out: Terrion Arnold, CB
Out: Sam LaPorta, TE
Out: Kerby Joseph, S
Likely out: Alex Anzalone, LB
Likely out: Alim McNeill, DT
Likely out: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR
Possibly out: Penei Sewell, OT
(NP - no practice, LP - limited practice, FP - full practice)
DETROIT LIONS (line +3)
NO PRACTICE
Alex Anzalone, LB (concussion) starter
Projection: Out
This concussion was suffered last Thursday which gives Anzalone 10 days until the next game. Only 2 Lions in the past 3 seasons have returned to play from a concussion in 10 days or less. There is no reason for Anzalone to be the 3rd. He took 15 days to return-to-play from his concussion in 2024.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR (knee/ankle) starter
Projection: Likely out
The knee was a known issue prior to the last game which was then visibly aggravated late in the game. The knee by itself may already be enough to keep him out on Sunday, but the addition of an ankle on the report seems to make the decision clear.
There was no obvious sign of an ankle injury last game. He had a right low ankle sprain on November 27, so maybe that got aggravated. There are no indications that either the ankle or knee are of significant long-term concern.
Kayode Awosika, OG (illness)
Projection: In
An early-week illness usually doesn’t keep guys out.
Trystan Colon, OG/C (wrist)
Projection: Out
Colon missed the last 2 games with the wrist and the NP has him trending out. The Lions might prefer to give playing time to Miles Frazier regardless.
Thomas Harper, S (concussion)
Projection: Out
This concussion in the last game almost certainly keeps him out.
Harper had 2 concussions in December which is a significant concern going forward into future seasons. It took 17 days to return-to-play from his 1st concussion. He is signed through the 2026 season, but reliability concerns may push the Lions to move on.
Christian Mahogany, OG (illness) starter
Projection: In
I expect Mahogany will start his 3rd straight game after missing about 2 months with a fibula fracture. Since he is a young, developing player, he could use the experience.
Alim McNeill, DT (abdomen) starter
Projection: Out
McNeill aggravated a pre-existing abdomen issue early last game and couldn’t finish. There’s no major concern, but also no reason to push him since he’s still recovering from his ACL.
Penei Sewell, OT (left ankle) starter
Projection: Lean out
Video was suspicious for a left high ankle sprain which can keep players out for the next 2-3 weeks - even if they finish the game like Sewell did. We’ve seen this scenario in the past with Taylor Decker.
LIMITED PRACTICE
Taylor Decker, LT (right shoulder/illness) starter
Projection: In
The early-week LP is a signal that he is planning to play on Sunday. He missed last game with a late illness.
Does the fact that he wants to play in the finale mean anything regarding possible retirement? If I were planning to retire, I would definitely want to try to play in my final game. If I were planning to play next season, I would probably rest my chronic shoulder in this meaningless game. But who knows.
Avonte Maddox, S (back/illness)
Projection: In
The LP is a good sign that the back and illness are nothing serious.
Giovanni Manu, OT (knee)
Projection: Lean out
Manu has not played since October 5 due to this unspecified knee. He opened his 21-day window from IR on December 17. I expected his target game to be in the season finale which is Day 19 of his window.
However, not getting an FP on Wednesday is not a good sign for his availability. If he can get up to an FP Thursday and/or Friday, he might have a chance.
Notables unlisted
Marcus Davenport has visibly been bothered by his right shoulder lately.
Al-Quadin Muhammad’s knee from last week is unlisted so he may get more snaps this game.
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.