Amon-Ra St. Brown Set to Play vs. Cowboys Despite Ankle Injury: “I’ve Got to Be Out There”
DETROIT - The Detroit Lions are getting a major boost ahead of Thursday Night Football. Star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who was listed as questionable with an ankle injury, is officially active and will suit up against the Dallas Cowboys.
That’s big news for a Lions team looking to regain momentum down the stretch. And while the box score won’t show it, St. Brown’s presence on the field - even at less than 100% - could be the emotional spark Detroit needs in a critical NFC showdown.
Battling Through the Pain
St. Brown has been nursing a low ankle sprain suffered during the Lions’ Thanksgiving Day loss to the Packers.
The injury occurred early in the game while blocking on a run play for Jahmyr Gibbs, when two offensive linemen rolled up on his ankle. He was targeted just once and didn’t record a catch before exiting - a rare quiet outing for one of the league’s most reliable receivers.
Since then, he’s been in recovery mode, doing everything possible to get back on the field. And while he didn’t participate in practice leading up to the game, he made it clear: if there’s a chance he can play, he’s going to take it.
“It hurts. But it’s getting better, so that’s the good news,” St.
Brown said earlier this week. “Just day by day, trying to make sure I’m out there for my guys.”
Mental Reps and Game Readiness
For a player who thrives on precision and timing, missing practice is no small thing. But St. Brown has leaned on the mental side of preparation, staying sharp in the playbook and locked in on assignments.
“For me, especially if you’re not practicing, it’s just mental reps. Everything’s mental,” he said.
“I’m used to being out there getting actual reps on the practice field, so just making sure I’m in my playbook, know where to line up, adjustments, everything. That’s the biggest thing.
It’s a lot mentally.”
Physically, the biggest hurdle hasn’t been straight-line speed - it’s the cuts, the stops, the quick changes of direction that make St. Brown so dangerous in the slot.
“Everyone thinks it’s just run straight, but that’s the least of my concerns,” he explained. “Can I stop?
Can I cut? Can I do all the little movements you don’t even think about when you’re out there?
That’s the biggest thing.”
One-Week Mentality, Big-Time Matchup
The Lions enter Thursday night at 7-5, still very much in the thick of the playoff race but looking to find consistency. After alternating wins and losses in recent weeks, St. Brown knows how important it is to stack victories - and how big this game is against a red-hot Dallas team.
“We get about 10 days of rest after this game, but it’s a one-week mentality for us each week,” he said. “The game just gets more important as we go.
This is a big one against a good team in Dallas, who’s hot right now. It’s a big game for us.
But every game at this point, the next one’s always the biggest.”
Even with the stakes rising, St. Brown’s mindset hasn’t changed. Whether the team is fighting for seeding or playing out the string, he wants to be on the field.
“If you ask me, no [the stakes don’t impact my decision to play],” he said. “Maybe the coaches or trainers would have a different answer, but I want to play every game.
That’s my mindset every year. I don’t want to miss any games.
Your availability is your best ability at the end of the day. Whether we’re 0-13 or 13-0, it doesn’t matter.
I’ve got to be out there.”
Thanksgiving Setback, Quick Turnaround
St. Brown’s injury came early on Thanksgiving Day, and he knew pretty quickly it wasn’t something he could push through.
“I didn’t know for sure once I limped off. About 10 minutes later, I kind of knew because I’ve had ankle sprains before and was able to come back, but this time the pain was too much,” he said.
“It was tough watching the game from the sideline. I felt like I let the guys down by not being out there.”
An MRI confirmed a low-ankle sprain with no structural damage - a best-case scenario under the circumstances. The expectation was a 1-2 week absence, and while he wasn’t expected to land on injured reserve, the short turnaround for a Thursday night game made things tricky.
“Three days, especially with this injury, is huge. It makes it tougher,” St.
Brown said. “Each day is crucial at this point.
Taking it day by day.”
He compared the injury to a previous ankle issue he dealt with in his second season against the Vikings - but this one, he said, felt worse.
“That one was different because I was able to finish the game. This time, I couldn’t put pressure on the ankle,” he said.
“Two different types of injuries, but very similar. Just continuing to get better each day and see if I can make it to game day.”
Stepping Up in His Absence
With St. Brown sidelined during practice, the Lions leaned more heavily on other weapons - and Jameson Williams answered the call.
“He looked great. He’s been great all year.
We all know JMo and his ability. He’s a ball of energy.
I love being out there with him,” St. Brown said.
Williams, who’s been carving out a bigger role in recent weeks, stayed focused on the team’s preparation rather than any individual spotlight.
“We’re not really certain about what we’re going to do right now,” Williams said. “We just focus on what we can do and how we can attack Dallas. That’s our main thing right now.”
As for proving doubters wrong, Williams shrugged it off.
“I don’t really look into me proving people wrong. People are going to think what they want, regardless of what you do or don’t do. I just go out there and do my job the best I can,” he said.
Looking to Get Back on Track
The Lions have been up and down lately, and St. Brown knows one win won’t fix everything - but it’s a start.
“I don’t know if one win is the answer. We’ve been winning, losing, winning, losing these past weeks,” he said.
“One win would help, definitely. But we’ve got to stack wins, especially at this point in the season.
The Cowboys game is the most important right now. If we take care of this game, we’ve got to build off it and not take steps backward.
A win would definitely help a lot.”
And now, with No. 14 back on the field, the Lions are better equipped to do just that. Even at less than full strength, Amon-Ra St. Brown’s presence brings toughness, leadership, and reliability - everything you want from your top receiver in a must-win December game.