The Detroit Lions (4-2) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) were back on the practice field on Friday, getting some more work in ahead of their upcoming showdown on “Monday Night Football.” After returning Taylor Decker to practice on Thursday, the Lions were able to return Terrion Arnold on Friday, and while things are looking up, it’s still unknown if either will play on Monday.
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.
No practice
- RB Sione Vaki (groin)
- DB Avonte Maddox (hamstring)
- S Kerby Joseph (knee)
Vaki has missed nearly four weeks of practice, and at this point, it’s probably safe to rule him out of this upcoming game as well. We’ll see if he is among the many that are expected to return after the Lions’ Week 8 bye.
Maddox was spotted working with trainers on Thursday, but since he is not expected to play on Monday, no practice was anticipated for Friday. The hope is that he could return after the Lions’ bye.
Joseph has been noticeably operating below his potential during games, as his knee injury has kept him from practicing for the last few weeks. He’s still managed to play through the pain on game days, and while that remains the expectation again this week, you have to wonder how long he can hold up.
Limited practice
- LT Taylor Decker (shoulder)
- DT DJ Reader (back) — Upgraded from no practice
- CB Terrion Arnold (shoulder) — Upgraded from no practice
Decker getting in back-to-back practices is a terrific sign that he is on the right path, but it’s still not clear if that path includes an option for him to play on Monday, or if he will continue to rest and try and get this injury behind him. We should get an update from Lions coach Dan Campbell on Saturday, during his final press conference before Monday night’s game.
Reader sat out Thursday’s practice with a new back injury, but was back on the practice field on Friday, suggesting he was given some time off to allow his back to recover a bit—something most people over 30 years old can empathize with when it comes to their back.
Arnold went from “possible season-ending injury” to returning to practice a week and a half later in the blink of an eye. On Thursday, Campbell said Arnold was expected to miss this upcoming game, but this return opens the door for either a quick return after the bye or an outside chance of him playing on Monday. An update from Campbell on Saturday is in order.
Full Practice
- DT Alim McNeill (ACL — Still on PUP) — Days remaining on clock: 4
- LB Zach Cunningham (hamstring)
McNeill is expected to be removed from PUP this week, added to the active roster, and play against the Bucs on Monday. The Lions were originally playing a bit coy about his status earlier this week, but they’ve since leaned into the fact that he’s 1000% playing.
“I expect Alim to come in and show what he’s shown the last two weeks on the practice field,” Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said on Friday. “Like I said, it’s like he didn’t miss a beat. Now, obviously, you’re not taking hard-core doubles and true pounding and — you know that live in-game you may find yourself in kind of an eight-play sequence there that you can’t simulate on the field. So, it’s all that stuff. Getting his legs back up under him. But I mean, I expect this player to play at a high level and more importantly, help our defense in a tremendous way.”
Cunningham continues to stack plays, which is a terrific sign that he is acclimating back to football and will have a real chance to return to play on Monday. His presence would help boost the Lions ’ goal-line defense and special teams.
Bucs’ injury report
Note: Staters are bolded.
Did not practice
- RB Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder)
- RB Josh Willilams (concussion)
- WR Mike Evans (hamstring) — downgraded but typically misses this second practice of the week
- WR Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) — likely to miss this game
- WR Chris Godwin (fibula) — expected to miss this game
- RG Luke Haggard (shoulder)
- LB Lavonte David (knee/rib)
Full practice
- CB Zyon McCollum (thumb)
- CB Benjamin Morrison (hamstring)
- P Riley Dixon (personal) — upgraded to full
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