As the Detroit Lions gear up to face the Seattle Seahawks on “Monday Night Football” during Week 4, both teams will experience a slight adjustment in their weekly schedules. This week, the teams will delay their usual injury report releases by a day. Instead of the regular Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday updates, the first official injury report will now be released on Thursday, followed by a second report on Friday, with final injury designations made on Saturday. This change creates a unique opportunity for teams to better assess their players’ conditions before game day.

Currently, the Lions are faced with a significant number of injuries that need to be managed. To keep fans and the media informed, let’s dive into Thursday’s injury report and provide you with the latest updates on player statuses. Notably, any changes from last week’s report will be bolded to highlight the most critical updates.

Injured Reserve and Non-Football Injury List Updates

• G Christian Mahogany (Illness, mono) — NFI list, eligible to return in Week 5
• DT Brodric Martin (knee) — injured reserve, eligible to return in Week 5
• DL John Cominsky (MCL) — injured reserve, eligible to return in Week 5
• EDGE Marcus Davenport (elbow) — injured reserve, eligible to return in Week 10
• LINEBACKER Derrick Barnes (knee) — injured reserve, eligible to return in Week 10
• CB Emmanuel Moseley (pec) — injured reserve, eligible to return in Week 5

The Lions faced a challenging setback as they lost both of their primary edge rushers, who were essential in complementing Aidan Hutchinson. During their base formations, the Lions relied on Derrick Barnes in the SAM linebacker role while also depending on Marcus Davenport for both base and subpackage duties. This loss will undoubtedly impact their defensive strategy moving forward.

Currently, the severity of Barnes’ knee injury remains uncertain, leaving it unclear how long he may be sidelined beyond the required four games. Meanwhile, Davenport’s injury is presumed to be season-ending, which raises concerns for the defensive line’s depth and effectiveness throughout the season.

In light of these injuries, the Lions are actively seeking suitable replacements. Josh Paschal appears to be the most capable candidate to step into Davenport’s role, exhibiting a skill set that aligns closely with that of his predecessor. Additionally, the Lions may consider utilizing other players such as Levi Onwuzurike and James Houston for situational roles. Unfortunately, the absence of a clear replacement for Barnes may necessitate a committee approach among the linebackers, making it crucial for the team to quickly find effective strategies to compensate for these losses.

Players Not Participating in Practice

• C Frank Ragnow (pec) — Injured in Week 3 — will not play today
• TE Sam LaPorta (ankle) — Injured in Week 3, working with a trainer
• OT Dan Skipper (ribs) — Injured in Week 3, returned to play
• S Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle)

Early Thursday morning, Coach Dan Campbell informed the media that Ragnow will not participate in today’s game. Instead, the coaching staff has decided to give him this week, along with next week’s bye, to recover fully and reassess his condition before returning to action.

“We’re going to put Frank down this week,” Campbell stated. “So I’ll go ahead and get that out of the way. We can go round and round if we want, but we’re not even going to tinker with that. Look, Frank’s tough. He’s just tough as nails. If anyone can play through this, it’s him. However, we need to be smart. It’s early in the season, and there’s a lot of football left to play.”

LaPorta attempted to play through his ankle injury multiple times last Sunday but struggled significantly. Fortunately, reports indicate that his ankle sprain is classified as “low,” suggesting he might still have a chance to play today. While not practicing is not an encouraging initial sign, he was seen working with a trainer and has two more practices to assess his condition.

Skipper suffered an injury early in the game against the Cardinals but managed to return to the field. It’s possible that his injury is lingering, or the Lions are opting to give him an early week break to ensure he is fully ready for the upcoming game, similar to their approach with Graham Glasgow last week.

Melifonwu continues to miss practice, which must be both frustrating and concerning for everyone involved. At this stage, it seems unlikely that he will be able to recover and adapt in time to secure significant playing time until after the bye week.

Players with Limited Practice Participation

• DT Alim McNeill (shoulder) — Injured in Week 3
• DL Levi Onwuzurike (knee) — Injured in Week 3, returned to play
• CB Ennis Rakestraw (hamstring) — upgraded to practicing
• S Brian Branch (concussion) — Injured in Week 3, in NFL’s protocol

McNeill sustained a shoulder injury during the first half of Week 3 and was unable to return to play. The positive news is that he participated in practice today, marking a significant step in the right direction toward his potential return to the field.

“Alim’s doing better, he’s day-to-day,” Campbell stated ahead of practice. “He’ll be out there running around today, so we’re in a good spot with him.”

McNeill himself expressed optimism regarding his recovery status:

Onwuzurike is dealing with a knee injury after briefly exiting Sunday’s game but was able to return to finish the contest. His limited practice to start the week suggests a positive outlook for Monday, although it’s essential to monitor his progress as the week continues.

Rakestraw injured his hamstring during warmups ahead of Week 2. After missing a week, he is back on the practice field, presenting a chance for him to return to the lineup. This development is encouraging for the rookie, as he needs valuable game experience to enhance his growth.

Branch remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol, but the fact that he is participating in practice indicates a possibility that he may be cleared to play against the Seahawks. It’s important to note that while practicing is a positive sign, there are still additional steps he must complete to ensure his readiness, making it an encouraging start to the week.

Players Fully Participating in Practice

• LINEBACKER Alex Anzalone (concussion) — upgraded to full practice

Anzalone was previously in the concussion protocol, but his upgrade to a full practice likely signals that he is close to, or has successfully cleared, the NFL’s concussion protocol. This puts him in an excellent position to return to game action for the Lions today.

Players Removed from Injury Report

• WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (quad)
• WR Isaiah Williams (abdomen)
• LG Graham Glasgow (knee)
• S Kerby Joseph (back)

All players listed in this section have been removed from the injury report, indicating their return to full health and readiness for the upcoming game.

Upcoming Seahawks Injury Report Details

Coming Soon.