The Detroit Lions’ margin for error is already razor-thin, and now the injury report is adding another layer of tension heading into Thursday’s Christmas Day showdown.
The Lions released their initial Week 17 injury report on Monday ahead of their road matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, and there are a few notable developments Lions fans will want to keep a close eye on.
Most notably: Amon-Ra St. Brown did not practice.
Amon-Ra St. Brown Misses Walkthrough
St. Brown was listed as a non-participant (NP) due to a knee injury. While Monday’s report is based on estimations, the Lions held a walkthrough rather than a full practice, it’s still not what you want to see from your top offensive weapon in a must-win game.
The Lions’ offense is built around St. Brown’s ability to win early, move the chains, and be Jared Goff’s security blanket. Any limitation, even this early in the week, is worth monitoring closely.
The good news? There’s still time. With the game being played Thursday, Detroit will release its final injury designations on Wednesday.
Graham Glasgow Back on the Field (Sort Of)
On the more positive side, Graham Glasgow returned as a limited participant (LP) after dealing with a knee issue. Given how banged up the Lions’ offensive line has been down the stretch, getting Glasgow trending in the right direction is a big deal.
Even limited availability could be crucial against a Vikings front that has given Detroit problems in recent meetings.
Full Lions Injury Report Snapshot
| Player | Position | Injury | Monday* | Tuesday | Wednesday | Game status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor Decker | T | shoulder | NP | |||
| Avonte Maddox | DB | back | NP | |||
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | WR | knee | NP | |||
| Trystan Colon | OL | wrist | LP | |||
| Marcus Davenport | DL | shoulder | LP | |||
| Graham Glasgow | C | knee | LP | |||
| Tom Kennedy | WR | abdomen | LP | |||
| Giovanni Manu | T | knee | LP | |||
| Christian Mahogany | G | fibula | LP | |||
| Alim McNeill | DL | abdomen | LP | |||
| Al-Quadin Muhammad | EDGE | knee | LP | |||
| Amik Robertson | DB | hand | LP |
*The Lions conducted a walkthrough on Monday. Practice participation designations for that day are based on estimations.
That’s a long list, and it highlights just how thin Detroit is entering the final two weeks of the season.
Short Week, High Stakes
Because this is a Thursday game, the Lions’ week is compressed. Monday’s walkthrough replaces a normal practice, Tuesday becomes more important, and Wednesday is essentially decision day.
Detroit knows the stakes. A loss on Christmas Day would effectively end their playoff hopes, and make this injury report feel even heavier.
For now, all eyes are on Amon-Ra St. Brown’s knee and whether the Lions can get healthier fast enough to survive one more week.
More updates coming Wednesday, and they’ll matter a lot.
Don Drysdale
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