The Detroit Lions added to their list of injured players again in Week 15, with three more players (Alim McNeill, Carlton Davis, Khalil Dorsey) going on IR. The outlook on running back David Montgomery is slightly more optimistic, as he seeks another opinion on his injured knee.
The Lions have started their on-field work heading into Week 16 against the Chicago Bears. Before Wednesday’s practice, head coach Dan Campbell said it would be a rest day for several players.
Observations from reporters during the open portion of practice confirmed several players were held out.
Dan Campbell said Lions were resting a bunch of players today.
Accurate.
No Brian Branch, Amon-Ra St. Brown, David Montgomery, Frank Ragnow, Kevin Zeitler, Graham Glasgow, Taylor Decker, DJ Reader, Za’Darius Smith
— Ben Raven (@BenjaminSRaven) December 18, 2024
Lions players held out of Wednesday's practice, many precautionarily according to Campbell:
Decker
Glasgow
Ragnow
Zeitler
Montgomery
St. Brown
Reader
Z. Smith
Branch— Justin Rogers | Detroit Football Network (@Justin_Rogers) December 18, 2024
First Lions practice report for Week 16 confirms broad-based rest day
Here is the Lions’ practice report for Wednesday (FP=Full participant, LP=Limited participant, NP=Non-participant).
- DB Brian Branch (calf)-NP
- OT Taylor Decker (rest)-NP
- OG Graham Glasgow (knee)-NP
- RB David Montgomery (knee)-NP
- C Frank Ragnow (rest)-NP
- DT DJ Reader (rest)-NP
- DE Za’Darius Smith (rest)-NP
- WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (rest)-NP
- OG Kevin Zeitler (rest)-NP
- S Ifeatu Melifonwu (hand)-FP
- LB Trevor Nowaske (concussion)-FP
If you’re counting at home, that’s six players listed as missing Wednesday’s practice due to rest. Of note among the group is Decker and Reader previously dealing with knee and shoulder issues respectively, and St. Brown having food poisoning the night before the game against the Bills.
Campbell previously said Glasgow was just a little sore coming off the game against the Bills, so holding him out on Wednesday may have been mostly a precaution.
Branch was clearly nursing an injury last Sunday (now revealed to be a calf issue). He was among the players Campbell noted would held out of Wednesday’s practice as a precaution, so we’ll see what Thursday’s practice report brings.
Montgomery was held out of practice, as expected, as he seeks that third opinion on his right knee.
Campbell said Melifonwu would have his 21-day activation window to come off IR opened this week, and as confirmation of that he was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice.
Nowaske missed the game against Buffalo with a concussion, but it appears he has cleared protocol after being listed as a full participant on Wednesday.
An additional injury note from Wednesday had to do with John Cominsky. Out since suffering a knee injury early in training camp, Campbell said it’s unlikely the veteran defensive lineman will play this season.
“I think it’s unlikely,” Campbell said, regarding Cominsky returning this season. “Man, he’s tried. He’s been rehabbing, he’s doing it. It’s just trying to get over that last little hump here. It’s been tough. He’s been doing everything he can, and those guys are doing a heck of a job rehabbing him, trying to get him back. But I think it’s unlikely.”
