Lions vs Vikings - Tuesday injury report (Week 17, 2025)
Is the building on fire? No, but...
With the Lions having a walkthrough on Monday (and again on Tuesday) and the Vikings just ditching all of Monday to go last-minute shopping at Mall of America, we have a better idea of both team’s health status after this Tuesday report.
At this point with 2 games left and only a slim chance of sneaking into the playoffs (Lions must win 2 and Packers must lose 2), shutting down banged-up players to preserve them for next season is under consideration.
The most obvious candidate would be Amon-Ra who came out of last game with a knee issue.
Despite a disappointing, frustrating season, the Lions still have many foundational pieces in place to make a run next year. This is evidenced by having 5 young players named today to the Pro-Bowl:
RB Jahmyr Gibbs
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
RT Penei Sewell
EDGE Aidan Hutchinson
LB Jack Campbell
John McClane: Is the building on fire?
Sergeant Al Powell: No, but it’s gonna need a paint job and a shitload of screen doors.
While the Lions building isn’t on fire, it will need some key improvements (interior OL, EDGE) to get back to being Super Bowl contenders.
Tuesday injury report
Lions starters out
Out: Brian Branch, S
Out: Terrion Arnold, CB
Out: Sam LaPorta, TE
Out: Kerby Joseph, S
Likely in: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR
(NP - no practice, LP - limited practice, FP - full practice)
DETROIT LIONS walkthrough (line -7)
NO PRACTICE
Avonte Maddox, S (back/illness)
Projection: Toss up
The mystery of why Maddox was helped off after the final defensive play last game was revealed - it’s a back. As we saw earlier this year with Sam LaPorta, sometimes back injuries end up being serious. Hopefully, this is just a minor strain/spasm or contusion.
The additional listing of an “illness” today makes his status hard to project. Was his NP today due to only the illness, or is the back still an issue?
David Montgomery, RB (illness)
Projection: Lean in
An illness 2 days before the game is cutting it close (assuming it’s benign), but there is still a good chance he’s available.
LIMITED PRACTICE
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR (knee) starter
Projection: Likely in
ARSB was slow to get up after a big hit in the final minute of last game. I didn’t see anything obviously concerning with the knee during that play.
On Tuesday, Dan Campbell stated: “It’s positive news, but there’s a little irritation.”
This past offseason, he had knee clean-up surgery with unknown relation. Often, this kind of surgery is due to small amounts of cartilage damage. As we’ve learned with Kerby Joseph, cartilage damage is nothing to be trifled with.
If St. Brown’s current irritation is in that same knee, it might be a good idea to rest him - especially with the playoffs a long shot.
With many of you in the throes of fantasy football playoffs, his status is certainly of major interest. We saw him play through his right low ankle sprain a few weeks ago when many thought he would be out.
The quick upgrade to an LP today is very reassuring and has him trending in for Christmas.
Taylor Decker, LT (right shoulder) starter
Projection: In
Decker should start his 10th straight game on Christmas.
Alim McNeill, DT (abdomen) starter
Projection: In
Alim played 76% of snaps without apparent issue. The early week LP’s are a good sign.
Trystan Colon, OG/C (wrist)
Projection: In
Colon missed last game with this wrist, but is trending in with 2 LP.
Amik Robertson, CB (left hand) starter
Projection: In
Robertson played last game with a club on his left hand. He should do so again on Christmas.
Christian Mahogany, LG (left fibula fracture) starter
Projection: In
Mahogany fractured his leg on November 2. The Steelers game was his first game back and he appeared to struggle a bit. He should gain strength over these final 2 games.
Giovanni Manu, OT (knee)
Projection: Out. Target return Week 18 vs Bears.
Manu has not played since October 5. He opened his 21-day window from IR on December 17. He’s very unlikely to see any offensive snaps this season unless there is an injury, but the practice time is valuable.
Marcus Davenport, EDGE (right shoulder) starter
Projection: In
Davenport missed 2.5 months with a right shoulder and/or pec injury. He’s played the last 4 games, but was clearly bothered by it for most of last game. Getting 2 LP is a good sign that the aggravation wasn’t too severe.
Tom Kennedy, WR (abdomen)
Projection: In
Two LP has him trending in.
Al-Quadin Muhammad, EDGE (knee)
Projection: In
Muhammad had an unspecified knee issue early in the season. He didn’t miss a game back then but may have been limited for a while. Unknown if the current knee issue is the same. He played 41% of snaps vs the Steelers.
For those wondering why his snap counts have not been higher this season (30-50% range), it could be due to a lingering knee issue.
FULL PRACTICE
Graham Glasgow, C (knee) starter
Projection: In
Glasgow missed last game due to the knee. He also had a left knee injury a month ago in Week 11 vs the Eagles and missed Week 13 due to a knee. He also was listed multiple times last season with a knee and missed a game for it.
The relation of all these “knees” is unknown, but it does suggest he’s been banged-up the past couple seasons.
Notables unlisted
Kayode Awosika missed the past 3 games with his foot injury but is ready now.
Sione Vaki’s thumb is finally off the report after multiple weeks.
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.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
No practice
JJ McCarthy, starting QB, has been ruled out with a right hand hairline fracture. Max Brosmer gets the start. We’ll see if he is in the giving mood on Christmas…
Ryan Kelly, starting C, will certainly be out with a concussion due to it being a short week as well as multiple concussions this season.
Jordan Mason, RB leads the team with 664 rushing yards on the year and is very likely out.
TJ Hockenson, TE has 51 receptions for 438 yards on the year.
Limited practice
Brian O’Neill, starting OT, upgraded to an LP today.