Lions Suddenly Have A Bigger Week 8 Injury Concern Than Fans Expected

The Detroit Lions face a significant challenge as key players, including running back Jahmyr Gibbs, are sidelined ahead of their crucial Week 8 matchup against the Vikings.

The Detroit Lions’ first injury report for Week 8 brought a few familiar names and one notable surprise, with running back Jahmyr Gibbs listed as a non-participant because of a shoulder injury ahead of Sunday’s home game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Gibbs was one of seven players who did not practice Wednesday. The group also included DJ Wonnum, Tyleik Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Alim McNeill and Aidan Hutchinson.

Three players were limited in practice: cornerback Ennis Rakestraw, safety Kerby Joseph and running back Jacob Saylors.

Dan Campbell said the team is taking a measured approach with several players as it moved through the day’s work.

"Saint's doing good," said Dan Campbell. "Ennis (Rakestraw Jr.) is doing good.

Going to hold them out of practice. We're going to do a walkthrough and then roll right into practice for a little bit here.

So, it goes all in one. And so, I think those guys will be at walkthrough, but I don't see them out there during the practice portion.

I'm going to hold a couple of other guys back just to get them off their feet, but they'll be at walkthrough. We're going to start Kerby (Joseph)'s clock today.

"So, he'll be running around, start working him in. He's put in a lot of work.

It's been a long, hard road for Kerby," Campbell added futher. "So, just to be able to get back out there with the guys and run around a little bit, this will be a, we'll kind of progress him as we go each week here just to get him back in the flow and football and the movement, the pounding, all of it."

Campbell also said the team is happy to have the former third-round pick back in the mix, though there is still work left before he’s fully through the process.

"He's passed every test to this point," said Campbell. "This is the next thing is to get him running around now.

So, the strength in the knee is good and the thigh, the quad, all of that. So, it'll be great to get him back out there with the guys.

And I know he's excited we are, but we’ve still got a ways to go, but this is a step in the right direction."

The full Wednesday report listed Ennis Rakestraw Jr. with an ankle issue, Kerby Joseph and Jacob Saylors with knee injuries, Gibbs with the shoulder injury, Hutchinson, McNeill and Sewell all resting, St. Brown with an ankle injury, Williams with an illness and Wonnum resting.

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