Pride of Detroit
The Detroit Lions released their Week 15 Thursday injury report, and DJ Reader returned to practice, while the Bills were down three starting defensive backs.
The Detroit Lions (12-1) and Buffalo Bills (10-3) were back on the practice field on Thursday, as they prepared for their Week 15 showdown at Ford Field. The Lions got some more good news and returned another starter, while the Bills downgraded one of their starters, leaving them down three defensive backs on Thursday.
Let’s take a look at Thursday’s injury report and get you up to date with what we know. Note that any changes from yesterday’s report will be bolded.
On Thursday, Nowaske was added to the injury report with a concussion, and with this being so late in the week, it would be surprising if he was able to clear the NFL’s protocols ahead of this week’s game. If Nowaske misses this game, the Lions would likely lean more on Ezekiel Turner and David Long to take on more snaps in the LB3 role that the trio had been splitting.
As expected, Reader returned to practice on Thursday, as the Lions didn’t want to expose the veteran to an intense padded practice on Wednesday. The good news is that he is back in the fold, but it is worth speculating if his being held out Wednesday was a sign that he’s not quite ready for physical contact, or if they’re just trying to keep him fresh for a return to game action this weekend. We should find out more on Friday.
Onwuzurike also appears to be nearing a return, and with his inside-out versatility, he would add much-needed depth to both the edge and interior of the Lions' defensive line. He could also potentially contribute in a starting role if Paschal, Reader, or McNeill are unable to play.
Decker stacking full practices is a great sign that the Lions' offensive line could return to full strength this week. For a team looking to get their running game back to “great” levels, he’d give the Lions a nice boost.
Paschal upgrading from limited to full practice puts him on track to return after missing the last game, which would be a huge boost for the Lions’ edge depth. They’ve been able to maintain with Za’Darius Smith and Al-Quadin Muhammad, but they could use more help. If Paschal is ready, look for him to return to a starting role and Muhammed to a reserve role.
McNeill still appears to be working his way through the league’s protocol, but getting in full practices is a great sign of no setback and he looks like he is also in a great spot to return....
