The Detroit Lions are heading into Sunday night’s Week 4 matchup with a Carolina Panthers team that’s been hammered by injuries on both sides of the ball.
Carolina’s latest setback came in the wake of its 21-18 loss to the Browns in Week 3, when sixth-year cornerback Jaycee Horn tore his quad. The two-time Pro Bowler is likely headed for a season-ending absence. Fellow cornerback Mike Jackson also exited that game early with a groin injury, leaving his status up in the air for the primetime meeting with Detroit.
The Panthers were already juggling other key absences. Linebacker Devin Lloyd, who was dealing with a calf injury, and wide receiver Xavier Legette, who was sidelined by a knee issue, were both inactive a week ago, and there’s no guarantee either one is ready for Week 4.
Carolina’s offensive line took another hit as well. According to NFL media, guard Damien Lewis will miss the next weeks with a UCL injury in his elbow. The report noted that medical evaluations are still ongoing, but Lewis is expected to sit out against the Lions and may only miss one game because of Carolina’s Week 5 bye.
The list keeps going. The Panthers already know they’ll be without receiver Chris Brazzell, who tore his LCL, and outside linebacker Nic Scourton, who tore his ACL, for the rest of the season.
There are more bodies on the shelf, too: offensive tackles Ikem Ekwonu, with a patella tendon injury, and Taylor Moton, who is dealing with a blood clot in his lung, are both out indefinitely. Defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton, who has a neck injury, and running back Jonathon Brooks, who is working through a core muscle issue, are also sidelined.
That kind of attrition leaves Carolina stretched thin as it prepares for Dan Campbell’s team.
“League wide, this is to be expected in the first four weeks. But, this is a lot on one team,” Canales expressed to reporters earlier this week.
“I can't really put my finger on it, but all of us, the directors of every department, we're all putting our heads together, just to look at what's going on, how we're doing things. And we need to.
We need to look at everything and just make sure the readiness is right and the preparation and recovery is right. So, there's a balance of both.
You can overdo it and you can underdo it, and we just want to be smack dab somewhere in that middle, in that sweetspot.”
Even with all of those injuries, Bryce Young is expected to be available after leaving last week’s Browns game with a lower-body ailment.
The Lions and Panthers are set to kick off at 8:20 p.m. Sunday night at Bank of America Stadium.
In Other News...
Lions Suddenly Have A Devin White Problem They Didnt Expect
The Lions spent Week 3 reshuffling the middle of their defense, and Trevor Nowaske ended up with a meaningful role while Devin White watched as a healthy scratch. It was the latest reminder that Detroits linebacker spot has become one of the more fluid parts of the roster, with Dan Campbell saying the group used against the Jets could be the one the team sticks with for now.
Around Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes, the Lions are treating the position as week-to-week business, which makes the depth chart a little less settled than it looked when the season began. For White, that means the path back onto the field is anything but guaranteed, and for Detroit it means the linebacker rotation remains open to change even if the current setup holds for another game. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Dobbs Just Gave The Lions Another Viral Sideline Moment
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Dobbs has built a reputation for being more than just a journeyman QB, and this was another reminder of why his nickname, The Passtronaut, fits so well. A University of Tennessee graduate with a 4.0 GPA in aerospace engineering and a background working with NASA, he has appeared in 27 NFL games across multiple teams, throwing for 3,346 yards with 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. For the Lions, moments like this only reinforce how much value he can bring beyond the box score. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Have A Week 4 Availability Concern In Key Spots
The Lions got back on the field this week with a short injury watch developing in a few important places as they prepare for Carolina. Offensive guard Ben Bartch and defensive end DJ Wonnum did not take part in the media-observed portion of practice, while cornerback D.J. Reed was limited as he works through a rib injury. It is the kind of early-week setup that can force a coaching staff to keep a close eye on both fronts, especially with roles still settling in.
Dan Campbell said Wonnum has shown steady development, which makes his status worth tracking as the week goes on. Bartchs situation is also one the team has been dealing with for a while, and Detroit will need more clarity before it can feel comfortable about the available depth in the trenches and in the secondary. The Lions have already played enough football to know availability can shape the plan in a hurry, and this week is trending toward another one of those tests. [Read more 🡒]