The Lions head into Sunday’s matchup with the Dolphins chasing a fourth straight win, and the week’s updated depth chart shows just how much Detroit is juggling on the injury front. After back-to-back emotional victories over divisional opponents, the Lions now have to keep their edge against a Miami team that’s struggling but still dangerous.
Jared Goff’s perfect interception-free run is over after he threw his first pick of the season last week, but his play has still been good enough to keep him in the MVP conversation. Detroit’s offense, meanwhile, is dealing with a few moving parts behind him.
At running back, Jahmyr Gibbs remains the starter, with Sione Vaki listed as questionable because of an ankle injury and Jacob Saylors questionable with a neck issue. The Lions also elevated Jabari Small from the practice squad, a move that points to the possibility that Vaki or Saylors won’t be available. If that happens, Small could see meaningful snaps spelling Gibbs and helping keep his workload in check.
The receiving group has its own questions. Amon-Ra St.
Brown is questionable with a rib injury, though the Lions’ most dependable pass catcher is expected to remain a major factor if he plays. Jameson Williams and Isaac TeSlaa are listed as the other starters, with Tay Martin and DeAndre Carter behind them.
Kendrick Law and Tom Kennedy are both on injured reserve.
Sam LaPorta is set to start at tight end with Brock Wright backing him up, while Tyler Conklin and Jackson Meeks are listed as reserves. LaPorta’s role in the passing game has dipped over the last two weeks, so this could be a spot where he gets more involved. He’ll also matter in the run game, especially with some uncertainty around the depth behind Gibbs, because of what he brings as a blocker.
Up front, Detroit is sticking with Penei Sewell on the left and Blake Miller on the right, with Larry Borom as the backup and Gio Manu inactive because of a non-football injury. Sewell is coming off an unusually rough outing after drawing four penalties, but the Lions have still leaned on that tackle pairing and gotten strong results.
The interior line remains steady with Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge at guard and Miles Frazier as the backup. Ben Bartch is on injured reserve.
At center, Juice Scruggs is in line for his sixth start of the season with Cade Mays out because of an ankle injury. Ratledge is available as an emergency option, and Seth McLaughlin could be active after being a healthy scratch in recent weeks.
Detroit’s defensive front continues to be a strength. Alim McNeill and Tyleik Williams are the starters inside, with Skyler Gill-Howard and Levi Onwuzurike behind them and Mekhi Wingo as a reserve. McNeill has stayed valuable on both the run and pass rush, while Williams and Gill-Howard give the Lions a nice blend of run defense and pressure ability.
On the edge, Aidan Hutchinson is joined by Tyler Lacy, with Derrick Moore and practice-squad elevation Anthony Lucas backing them up. Eric O’Neill and Ahmed Hassanein are reserves, while DJ Wonnum is out with a concussion and Payton Turner is on injured reserve.
With Wonnum sidelined, there had been some thought Hassanein might finally get a shot after being inactive all season, but Lucas got the call instead. Lacy is expected to handle the big end role, Moore should see more pass-rush work, and Lucas will make his NFL debut after a strong preseason.
Linebacker depth is also being tested. Derrick Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez are the starters, with Trevor Nowaske, Amen Ogbongbemiga and Joe Bachie behind them.
K.J. Britt is a reserve after being signed off the New England Patriots’ practice squad.
Jack Campbell, Jimmy Rolder, Damone Clark and Devin White are all inactive because of injuries. Campbell’s absence looms large, and Rolder had been trending up before his season-ending injury.
In the secondary, Roger McCreary and Ennis Rakestraw are the starters at corner, with Khalil Dorsey and Rock Ya-Sin as backups and Nick Whiteside as a reserve. D.J.
Reed is out with a hip injury, which opens the door for more rotation at corner. That could mean extra snaps for Rakestraw, Dorsey, Ya-Sin and even Whiteside, who was added to the active roster Saturday.
Whiteside had a strong start to camp and now gets his first regular-season chance to contribute.
At safety, Brian Branch and Chuck Clark are set to start, with Keith Abney listed at nickel and Christian Izien behind them. Kerby Joseph remains on the physically unable to perform list, while Avonte Maddox and Thomas Harper are on injured reserve.
Branch started the week in concussion protocol, but he cleared every step and is back in time for the game. In a week full of injury issues, that’s a welcome development for Detroit.
Special teams remains intact with Jake Bates at kicker, Jack Fox punting and Hogan Hatten snapping. DeAndre Carter and Jabari Small are listed as kick returners, with Carter handling punt return duties.
If Saylors or Vaki can go, they’ll share kick return work with Carter. If not, Small could get the chance to return kicks and make his first impression of the season.
In Other News...
Lions Hit With NFL Punishment After Another Edge-Crossing Moment
The NFLs emphasis on sportsmanship has once again landed on Detroit, with the league continuing to crack down on taunting as it tries to keep emotions from spilling over. For the Lions, it is another reminder that even in the heat of a divisional matchup, the line between competitive fire and unnecessary attention from the officials can be a thin one.
Detroit also received the leagues latest reminder about preventing unsportsmanlike conduct, a message that extends beyond game day and into the controlled chaos of joint practices. With the NFL making clear it wants those standards enforced consistently, the Lions are being asked to keep their edge without giving the league a reason to step in again. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Need These 3 Defenders To Hold Up Vs Miami
The Lions are heading into their Week 9 matchup with Miami with some real strain on the defensive side of the ball, and the ripple effect is putting more on the plate for several depth pieces. Moore is in line for a bigger workload, Rodriguez is set for a heavier role in the middle, and Ya-Sin should see more snaps in the secondary, all because Detroit is trying to patch together a defense that has been hit by injuries at multiple levels.
For a team facing a Dolphins offense that can stress a defense in a hurry, the timing is far from ideal. Moore, Rodriguez and Ya-Sin now have a chance to show they can hold up under expanded responsibilities, but their performance grades and recent usage suggest different levels of readiness as the Lions try to get through a game that could ask a lot more of them than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Get An Emotional Jack Campbell Update As His Absence Grows
Jack Campbells absence has stretched beyond the field, with the Lions linebacker still hospitalized in Detroit after the neck injury he suffered against the Vikings. Dan Campbell said the young defender is improving, and the update carries extra weight for a team that has had to keep moving while one of its most physical players recovers. Detroit has already made roster adjustments to cover the gap, but the bigger story has been the human one, with teammates and coaches waiting for better news.
Around the building, the Lions have tried to keep Campbell close even while he is away from it. The injury has prompted an outpouring of support inside the locker room, a reflection of how much he means to the team and how much his return would matter once he is cleared to come back. For now, the focus remains on his recovery, with the football part of the story still secondary to the fact that he is making progress and determined to get back. [Read more 🡒]