The Detroit Lions released their Week 12 initial injury report, and it’s good news for tight end Sam LaPorta.
The Detroit Lions (9-1) are back on the road in Week 12, traveling to Indiana to take on the Indianapolis Colts (5-6).
Just like the previous two weeks, the Lions are starting the week slow and running a walkthrough to begin the practice portion of the week. Unfortunately, these types of practices are not open to the media, and therefore, today’s injury report will be based on how the coaches estimate players would have participated, had there been a full practice.
Let’s take a look at Wednesday’s estimated injury report and get you up to date with what we know. Note that any changes from last week’s report will be bolded.
Injured reserve
- DL John Cominsky (MCL) — injured reserve, could return in the playoffs
- LB Alex Anzalone (forearm) — injured reserve, expected to miss 6-8 weeks
- LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (neck) — injured reserve, eligible to return in Week 14
- CB Emmanuel Moseley (pec) — injured reserve, 21-day evaluation clock started
- S Ifeatu Melifonwu (finger) — injured reserve, eligible to return in Week 16
Anzalone broke his forearm in Week 11 and will reportedly be out 6-8 weeks, which puts him in line to return at the very end of the season or potentially in the playoffs.
Melifonwu was in the injury evaluation window for an ankle injury and was nearing return but an unfortunate finger injury will send him right back to injured reserve. He will now miss the next four games, at a minimum, and will have a chance to return near the end of the season. Reading the tea leaves, while the Lions had the option to leave him on injured reserve and end his season, they instead elected to jump through some procedural hoops to make sure he was eligible to return again, which is a good indicator that they’re expecting him to make his way back to the roster.
No practice
- None
Limited practice
- None
Full practice
- TE Sam LaPorta (shoulder) — UPGRADED
- TE Shane Zylstra (neck) — Injured in Week 11
- WR Allen Robinson (game day concussion) — Injured in Week 11
- CB Carlton Davis (thumb)
- CB Emmanuel Moseley (pec) — Days remaining in injury evaluation window: 6
An estimated full practice for LaPorta is a huge sign that the star tight end is on his way to returning from a shoulder injury after missing just one game. Coach Dan Campbell seemed optimistic about LaPorta’s chances when asked on Wednesday.
“It’s questionable to above for LaPorta, I think it’s trending the right way,” Campbell said.
Zylstra suffered an injury right at the end of Sunday’s game against the Jaguars, but based on his full participation status, it doesn’t seem serious. Same situation for Allen Robinson, who went through the gameday concussion protocol, but it appears he did not suffer a concussion based on his status for Wednesday’s practice.
Davis broke his thumb last week but was able to play through his injury. With the Lions taking a significant lead into the half, they opted to give Davis some extra rest in the second half, and he appears to be doing well as he is estimated to have been able to practice in full on Wednesday.
Moseley continues to work his way through the injury evaluation window. He still has another week available to him, if he needs it, but a decision on his status will need to be made by next Tuesday.
No longer listed on the injury report
- LT Taylor Decker (shoulder)
- DT Brodric Martin (knee)
- LB Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle)
- LB Ben Niemann (ankle)
The players listed in this section are no longer on the injury report. Decker, Rodriguez, and Niemann all played in Week 11, while Martin was removed from injured reserve and added to active roster on Wednesday.
Colts’ initial injury report
(Starters are bolded. Colts also held a walkthrough, so injury report is estimated participation)
No practice
- LT Bernhard Raimann (knee)
Limited practice
- RT Braden Smith (foot)
Full practice
- DE Tyquan Lewis (elbow) — On IR, 21-day evaluation window opened on Wednesday
- WR Michael Pittman Jr. (back)
