Lions' Ennis Rakestraw: Designated to return from IR
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The Lions designated Rakestraw (hamstring) to return from injured reserve Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Rakestraw was placed on injured reserve in late November due to a hamstring injury. He's progressed enough in his recovery to return to practice, and depending on how his hamstring responds to on-field work, Rakestraw could be activated off IR and play in the Lions' divisional-round game. The rookie second-round pick logged six tackles (four solo) across eight regular-season games.
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Lions' Carlton Davis: Not in line to return this season
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Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday that Davis (jaw) is not expected to return from IR during the playoffs, Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News reports.
Davis remains on IR due to a fractured jaw suffered Week 15, and his chances of returning for a late playoff push had never looked too optimistic. The veteran cornerback, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, will focus on returning to full health. Across 13 regular-season appearances, Davis tallied 56 tackles (42 solo), 11 passes defensed (including two interceptions), one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
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Lions' Derrick Barnes: Won't return this season
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Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday he does not expect Barnes (knee) to return from IR during the playoffs, Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News reports.
Barnes landed on IR back in Week 3 due to a knee injury, and while it initially appeared he could make a push to retake the field late in the playoffs, the fourth-year linebacker will instead turn his full attention toward the 2025 campaign. He's slated to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
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Lions' Terrion Arnold: Day-to-day with bruised foot
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Arnold is considered day-to-day with a foot contusion, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Arnold said he would be playing in Detroit's post-bye divisional-round game after suffering the injury Sunday versus the Vikings. His status will be more clear when the Lions start releasing their official practice reports after Wild Card Weekend.
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Lions' Terrion Arnold: Avoids serious injury
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Coach Dan Campbell said that X-rays on Arnold's foot were negative after he was forced out of Sunday's game versus the Vikings, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Arnold said Sunday that he plans to play in the Lions' NFC divisional-round game after Detroit's first-round bye. It's cause for a sigh of relief from the Lions, who are already dealing with a mountain of injuries on defense.
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Lions' Alex Anzalone: Leads team in tackles in return
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Anzalone recorded seven total tackles (three solo) and a pass defensed in Sunday night's 31-9 win over the Vikings.
Anzalone was rather active in his return to the field following a six-game absence with a broken forearm, leading the team with seven takedowns in the contest. The linebacker finished the regular season having produced 63 total tackles (43 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding five passes defensed over 10 games. With the victory in Week 18, the Lions secured a bye week to open the playoffs, and Anzalone will look to build off of Sunday's performance when Detroit returns to action in the NFC divisional round in two weeks.
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Lions' Terrion Arnold: Done for night
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Arnold (foot) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday night's contest against the Vikings.
Arnold suffered a foot injury in the third quarter, which has now officially brought his night to a premature end. In his absence, Kindle Vildor and Stantley Thomas-Oliver stepped into more significant roles in Detroit's secondary. With the Lions set to be the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, Arnold will look to rest and recover from the foot injury in time for the divisional round in two weeks.
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Lions' Patrick O'Connor: Done for night
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O'Connor (calf) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday night's matchup with the Vikings.
O'Connor will miss the remainder of the game as he nurses a calf injury. He'll now shift his focus to being ready for the postseason. In the meantime, Al-Quadin Muhammad will likely continue to see an elevated role on the defensive line for the Lions against Minnesota.
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Lions' Terrion Arnold: Leaves with foot injury
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Arnold exited Sunday night's game against the Vikings with a foot injury and is questionable to return.
Arnold was injured while making a tackle early in the third quarter. He was unable to put any weight on his foot and eventually took a cart to the locker room. The Lions are severely shorthanded at cornerback, having already lost top cover corner Carlton Davis to a broken jaw in Week 15. Kindle Vildor and Stantley Thomas-Oliver are next up for snaps at the position.
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Lions' Patrick O'Connor: Questionable to return to SNF
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O'Connor (calf) is questionable to return to Sunday night's contest against the Vikings.
O'Connor appears to have picked up a calf injury against Minnesota, placing some doubt on his ability to return to the team's regular-season finale. In O'Connor's absence, Al-Quadin Muhammad stands to see an increase in workload with Detroit's defensive line.
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Lions' Alex Anzalone: Making return in Week 18
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Anzalone (forearm) is active for Sunday night's contest against the Vikings.
Anzalone will make his return to the field after missing six games with a broken forearm suffered in Week 11 against the Jaguars. The linebacker will likely be on a "pitch count" Sunday, but he stands to provide a substantial addition to Detroit's defense in the uber-significant matchup with Minnesota. On the season, Anzalone has compiled 56 total tackles (40 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding four passes defensed over nine games.
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Lions' Emmanuel Moseley: Placed on NFI list
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The Lions placed Moseley on the reserve/non-football illness list Saturday.
An illness has prevented Moseley from practicing all week, and it is severe enough for the 28-year-old corner to be placed on the NFI list. He'll now be forced to miss at least the next four games, which means he won't be available for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Vikings. Moseley won't play another snap for the Lions this season unless Detroit enters the postseason as the NFC's fifth seed and makes it to the Super Bowl.
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Lions' Alex Anzalone: Taken off injured reserve
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Detroit activated Anzalone (forearm) from injured reserve Saturday.
Anzalone was placed on IR on Nov. 18 after breaking his forearm during the Lions' Week 11 blowout win over the Jaguars. He returned to practice Wednesday and logged consecutive full practices to end the week. His activation off IR on Saturday indicates that he is on track to play against the Vikings on Sunday. In the nine games prior to his injury, Anzalone tallied 56 tackles (40 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and four pass defenses.
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Lions' Amik Robertson: Upgraded to full Thursday
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Robertson (calf) returned to a full practice Thursday.
Robertson logged 100 percent of the defensive snaps last Monday night against the 49ers and has become an every-down cornerback for the Lions in the two games since Carlton Davis suffered a broken jaw. Over the last two weeks, Robertson has totaled 10 tackles (seven solo), three pass breakups and one forced fumble.
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Lions' Jack Campbell: Back to full practice
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Campbell (ribs) returned to a full practice Thursday.
Campbell was limited Wednesday but appears fine for Sunday night's Week 18 clash against the Vikings after playing 100 percent of the defensive snaps last Monday night against the 49ers. Campbell has appeared in all 16 games this season, logging 125 tackles (67 solo), including five TFLs and 1.5 sacks, five pass breakups and one forced fumble. He's played 100 percent of the defensive snaps in six straight contests.
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Lions' Alex Anzalone: Upgrades to full practice
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Anzalone (forearm) practiced in full Thursday.
Anzalone remains on injured reserve but appears to be nearing a return after he was designated for return Wednesday. The Lions badly need the help on defense with the team already down linebackers Derrick Barnes (knee) and Malcolm Rodriguez (knee) ahead of Sunday night's big game against Minnesota.
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Lions' Amik Robertson: Logs limited session Wednesday
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Robertson (calf) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's practice estimation.
Robertson played 100 percent of the Lions' defensive snaps in Monday night's win over the 49ers, recording two total tackles, one pass defended and one forced fumble. However, it now appears he sustained a calf injury in the process. If the 26-year-old's injury holds him out of the Week 18 matchup against the Vikings, Kindle Vildor will likely start opposite rookie Terrion Arnold as part of Detroit's top outside cornerback duo.
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Lions' Jack Campbell: Nursing ribs injury
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Campbell (ribs) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's practice estimation.
Campbell appears to have picked up a ribs injury in the Lions' Week 17 win over the 49ers, despite playing 100 percent of the team's defensive snaps and recording nine total tackles. His practice participation Thursday and Friday will likely provide the best indication of whether he can play through his ribs issue in the Week 18 matchup against the Vikings. The second-year linebacker from Iowa may see a lighter workload if he suits up Sunday, especially with the possibility of Alex Anzalone (forearm) returning from injured reserve.
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Lions' Alex Anzalone: Could return for Week 18
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Anzalone (forearm) was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday.
Anzalone was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's practice estimation, and Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that there's a realistic chance for the 30-year-old to make his return in the Lions' Week 18 matchup against the Vikings, a game that will decide the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Anzalone's practice participation Thursday and Friday will likely offer the best insight into whether he can suit up Sunday. He would be a significant addition to a Detroit linebacker corps already without Derrick Barnes (knee) and Malcolm Rodriguez (knee).
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Lions' Brian Branch: Notches sack in win
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Branch recorded seven total tackles (four solo), including 1.0 sacks, in Monday night's 40-34 win over the 49ers.
Branch was able to secure his first sack of the season, bringing down Brock Purdy in the fourth quarter. Additionally, the 23-year-old produced at least seven tackles for the third game in a row and seventh time overall in 2024. On the year, Branch has now compiled 103 total tackles (76 solo), including 1.0 sacks, a forced fumble and 15 passes defensed, including four interceptions, over 15 games.
