As the Detroit Lions (7-5) gear up for a high-stakes Thursday night clash against the Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1), the first Week 14 injury reports are in-and there’s plenty to unpack. With the short week compressing the usual practice schedule, Detroit released its initial injury update on Monday, and it paints a picture of a team both battling attrition and inching toward reinforcements.
Let’s break down where things stand on the injury front heading into this pivotal NFC matchup.
Tight End Depth Gets a Boost, But Paschal’s Season Ends
There’s a bit of good news for Detroit’s offense: tight end Shane Zylstra is back on the practice field. He’s been sidelined for most of the season with an ankle injury, but his return couldn’t come at a better time. With the Lions down their top two tight ends, Zylstra could be a much-needed addition-assuming he’s healthy enough to contribute soon.
On the flip side, defensive lineman Josh Paschal’s season is officially over. After showing some signs of progress in his injury evaluation window, he was ultimately shut down and remains on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list.
That means he won’t suit up again in 2025. For Paschal, who’s in a contract year, it’s a tough break with his future now uncertain.
“It just wasn’t enough time,” head coach Dan Campbell said. “Hate it for him, but it’s where it was at.”
Key Offensive Weapons Sidelined
Amon-Ra St. Brown, the heartbeat of Detroit’s passing attack, didn’t practice Monday after suffering an ankle injury in Week 13.
The MRI confirmed a low ankle sprain-no structural damage-which is encouraging, but his status for Thursday is still very much up in the air. With the Lions in the thick of the playoff chase, they’ll likely err on the side of caution with one of their most important players.
Kalif Raymond is also dealing with an ankle issue, and while there’s no official update yet, his absence from practice adds more uncertainty to an already thin receiving corps.
Tight end Brock Wright is dealing with a unique and painful injury-a fractured cartilage in his trachea. It’s the same type of injury center Frank Ragnow played through years ago, but it’s not something that clears up quickly. The Lions are still gathering second opinions, but there’s no change in his outlook for now.
Then there’s rookie corner Terrion Arnold, who just cleared concussion protocol but popped up with a shoulder injury that kept him out of Monday’s session. The timing is unfortunate, as Arnold had just gotten back into the mix.
Limited Participants: Trending in the Right Direction
Sione Vaki continues to tough it out through a thumb injury. While it’s kept him from resuming return duties on special teams, he’s still finding ways to contribute. It’s also worth noting that he’s no longer listed with an ankle issue, which suggests he’s healing up.
Taylor Decker remains on his familiar maintenance plan-practicing some days, resting others. No red flags here, just the routine of a veteran managing the grind of a long season.
Graham Glasgow is trending upward after dealing with a lower-body issue. Campbell said he’s “doing better,” though the team has only gone through walkthroughs so far. Still, any movement toward full practice is a positive sign.
Brian Branch has been managing a nagging foot injury for over a month but continues to play through it. His presence on the limited list isn’t new, and there’s no elevated concern at this point.
Kerby Joseph might be the most encouraging development of the week. He’s missed six games while trying to stabilize a leg injury, but he’s been running and doing individual drills. Returning to practice Monday is a big step forward.
“He’s close,” Campbell said. “We’ll know a lot more tomorrow.”
Back to Full Strength: Key Players Cleared
Several Lions are no longer listed on the injury report, and that’s a big win for this team heading into a critical stretch.
- Jacob Saylors is good to go after dealing with back and knee issues. With Craig Reynolds now in New England, Saylors and Vaki are expected to take on more responsibility, especially on special teams.
- Isaac TeSlaa has been battling through a hand injury and an oblique issue, but he’s cleared now-and just in time.
With St. Brown and Raymond potentially out, the rookie wideout could be looking at a starting role on Thursday.
- Penei Sewell, who’s been a fixture on the injury report in recent weeks, is finally off it. That’s a huge relief for the offensive line, which has leaned heavily on Sewell’s consistency.
- Tate Ratledge, the rookie guard, continues to show impressive resilience. He’s bounced back quickly from a knee issue and is now fully cleared.
- Miles Frazier was activated from the PUP list last week but didn’t suit up. Whether that was due to lingering injury or just needing more reps remains unclear, but he’s trending in the right direction.
- Marcus Davenport, dealing with a shoulder issue, is also off the report and ready to go.
What It Means for Thursday
The Lions are walking a fine line between getting healthier and managing some critical injuries. If St.
Brown can’t go-and that’s still a real possibility-Detroit’s offense will need to lean on less experienced weapons like TeSlaa and Vaki. The return of Zylstra could help in the tight end room, but the loss of Wright adds to the challenge.
Defensively, the potential return of Joseph and continued availability of Branch provide some much-needed stability on the back end. But losing Arnold, even temporarily, would be a blow to a secondary that’s already been tested this season.
This Thursday night showdown is shaping up to be a battle of attrition as much as a clash of NFC contenders. The Lions are hoping their depth can hold strong-and that a few key names can get over the hump in time for kickoff.