The Detroit Lions are getting bit, chewed up, and spit out by the injury bug. You wouldn’t know it from their record, but it’s starting to add up when you watch the team on the field. The defense has been especially bruised and battered—I’m sure you have seen this infamous graphic by now:
This was the Lions' initial front seven on the 53: pic.twitter.com/yo0x2m0eou
— John Whiticar (@Whiticar) November 30, 2024
There’s never a good time to be injured, but the Lions may just be lucky enough that they’ll have several players returning to the field in time for a playoff run. Who are you most excited to see on the field again?
Question of the day: Which injured Lion are you most excited to see back on the field?
I know what you’re thinking—it’s gotta be Aidan Hutchinson. He’s arguably the best player on this whole team. To that, I agree. But if Hutch were to return for a Super Bowl, or even for an NFC Championship, I would really temper expectations. Coming back from an injury like his likely means rust, and perhaps even mental obstacles to overcome before he’s back to being himself. Most importantly, though, is conditioning. There’s a reason training camp and the preseason are almost two full months of ramp-up before players play an entire game. It takes a huge toll on the body and requires a lot of buildup, and there’s only so much Hutch can do in that department between getting back to weight-bearing on his leg and the end of January.
My answer: that being said, I’m most excited to see Alex Anzalone again.
There isn’t a concrete timeline for his return yet, but the general consensus around his injury was that he could return in time for a playoff run. With a broken arm (as opposed to Hutch’s broken leg), there’s a lot more Anzalone can do to stay conditioned and ready to return to full action rather quickly.
On top of that, Anzalone’s presence is one of the most important in the entire defense. Not only is he a really good player, but his backups have been decimated by injuries as well. The Lions are quite literally signing linebackers off the street and starting them the same week. Having Anzalone back means no more of that, and it gives a strong presence on defense to support guys who are further down the depth chart if and when they do see the field.
Who are you most excited to see back on the field? Vote below and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
