The Detroit Lions (5-2) and Minnesota Vikings (3-4) have declared their Week 9 injury designations ahead of their Sunday NFC North showdown at Ford Field.
Let’s take a look at the latest injury report and get you up to date with what we know. Note: Any changes from the last injury report will be bolded.
Ruled OUT
- RB Craig Reynolds (hamstring)
- S Kerby Joseph (knee)
- LB Malcolm Rodriguez (ACL, still on PUP) — Days remaining in evaluation: 17
Reynolds injured his hamstring in Week 7 and has been unable to practice since. By being ruled out for this game, he’ll have another block of time to rest and recover.
Joseph was shut down by the Lions ahead of Week 7, and he has not practiced in the last three weeks. He still needs a bit more time, according to Lions coach Dan Campbell, but he’s trending in the right direction.
“Yeah, I don’t see Kerby playing this week,” Campbell said on Friday. “He’s going to need a little bit here. So, the negative is, yeah, I don’t think he’s going to play. The positive is, he is getting better. He really is. It’s just going to take a minute here. So, that’s kind of where we’re at.”
Rodriguez was ruled out for this game, meaning he’ll stay on the injury list another week. He will have just over two weeks remaining to be evaluated, but can be removed at any time once healthy enough to return to the active roster.
Questionable
- RB Sione Vaki (groin)
- LT Taylor Decker (shoulder)
- DB Avonte Maddox (hamstring)
- S Daniel Thomas (forearm, still on IR) — Days remaining in evaluation: 16
Vaki practiced all week and will have a chance to return to the lineup for this Sunday’s game. With Reynolds unable to play, the Lions could use his help as a reserve on offense and as a starter on special teams.
Decker is still working through his shoulder injury, but his practice schedule this week indicates he is improving. After getting in multiple practices, including a full practice on Thursday, Decker is on the right track, despite resting on Friday.
“Decker, I don’t see practicing today, but I do see him playing. He had a good week,” Campbell explained.
Maddox is trending in the right direction to play after missing Weeks 6 and 7 due to a hamstring injury. There’s no rush for him to return, but if he is active on Sunday, he could have a chance to contribute at safety with Joseph ruled out—although Thomas Harper could easily be called upon again to start at free safety.
Thomas being listed as questionable means the Lions are considering activating him from injured reserve and placing him back on the active roster. If that move happens, it will likely come on Saturday, typically around 4 p.m. ET.
Not listed with an injury designation
- EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad (hamstring)
- CB Terrion Arnold (shoulder)
Muhammad missed practice on Tuesday but has returned to practice and increased his level of participation throughout the week. He looks to be on track to start opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
Arnold practiced in full all week and looks to be ready to return after missing the last two games. He should just right back into the starting lineup opposite Amik Robertson.
“TA (Arnold), I think is trending the right way right now. He’s looked pretty good in practice,” Campbell noted.
Update: Injury list
- EDGE Josh Paschal (back, Reserve/NFI)
Paschal has been unable to play since the summer, missing all of training camp and the first half of the season with what we now know is a back injury. The Lions are taking things very slowly with his rehabilitation, but are hopeful that he could return sometime in the next three weeks or so.
“Tt’s a back is what it is. And he is improving. We’re trying to be smart, we’re taking it as far as we can,” Campbell informed the media. “He’s got a few more things to show us before we’re ready to open the window for him to practice. So, I’m hopeful three weeks, somewhere in there. I’m hopeful (by) the end of November, maybe early December. But he is improving.”
Vikings’ injury designations
Note: Starters are bolded, changes are noted.
Ruled OUT
- FB C.J. Ham (hand)
- TE Josh Oliver (foot)
- CB Jeff Okudah (concussion)
Questionable
- LT Christian Darrisaw (knee)
- RT Brian O’Neill (knee)
- EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel (neck) — expectations are that he will be available
- DB Josh Metellus (foot) — Added to the injury report on Friday
No injury designation
- QB J.J. McCarthy (ankle) — “100% ready to go,” — Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell
- LB Johnathan Greenard (ankle)
- CB Isaiah Rodgers (shoulder)
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