Photo: Kimberly P. Mitchell ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
DETROIT, December 16, 2024 ~ Coming into the Buffalo Bills game, the Detroit Lions were dealing with a number of injuries. Star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is still holding out hope for a return if Detroit is able to make it deep into the playoffs, while linebacker and captain Alex Anzalone is skeptical to return for the beginning of the playoffs. These are just a couple of the many key injuries the team is dealing with, and they lost a couple more in the defeat against Buffalo.
Head coach Dan Campbell announced that defensive tackle Alim McNeill has suffered a torn ACL and will be out for the season along with running back David Montgomery, who badly strained his MCL and will undergo season-ending knee surgery.
Cornerback Carlton Davis III has also been ruled out for six weeks with a fractured jaw and backup cornerback Khalil Dorsey is done for the year after being taken off the field by a stretcher against the Bills. The total number of Lions players on the Injured Reserve list is now up to 21.
Fortunately, a couple of Lions defenders are back on the mend after not seeing the field much at all this season.
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Coach Campbell with updates on Ifeatu Melifonwu and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. pic.twitter.com/gB8DBbIIKY
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 16, 2024
(CONTINUED) Cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. has not seen much of the field this year due to nagging injuries, but is looking promising to replace Davis III in the upcoming weeks until his return. Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, after sitting out every single game this season with an ankle injury, is expected to start moving around at practice this week. His size and speed could be utilized at the linebacker position instead of his normal safety spot due to the lack of healthy players in the middle of the defense.
The Lions will have this week to rest up to prepare for the second-to-last divisional test of the season at Chicago.
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