As the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions gear up for their Christmas Day clash at U.S. Bank Stadium, both teams are entering the matchup with some key injury concerns that could have a real impact on how this NFC North battle plays out. Let’s break down the final injury reports, position by position, and what it could mean for each side.
Detroit Lions: Depth Being Tested Across the Board
The Lions will be without defensive back Avonte Maddox (knee/illness) and offensive tackle Giovanni Manu (knee), both officially ruled out. While Maddox hasn’t been a regular contributor this season, his absence still chips away at Detroit’s secondary depth - not ideal heading into a game against a team that likes to work the middle of the field.
The more pressing concern? The sheer volume of players listed as questionable - eleven in total. That’s nearly a quarter of the active roster, and while most of them were limited participants in Wednesday’s practice, the availability of several starters remains up in the air.
Here’s the full list of Lions players listed as questionable:
- Trystan Colon (wrist)
- Marcus Davenport (undisclosed)
- Taylor Decker (shoulder) - Did not practice Wednesday
- Khalil Dorsey (illness)
- Tom Kennedy (abdomen)
- Christian Mahogany (fibula)
- Alim McNeil (abdomen)
- David Montgomery (illness)
- Al-Quadin Muhammad (knee)
- Amik Robertson (hand)
- **Amon-Ra St.
Brown** (knee)
The big names here are Amon-Ra St. Brown and David Montgomery, two cornerstone pieces of Detroit’s offense.
St. Brown has been the heartbeat of the passing game all season, and Montgomery’s physical running style has complemented rookie Jahmyr Gibbs beautifully.
If either of them is limited or unavailable, it changes the rhythm of Detroit’s offense in a big way.
That said, it’s worth noting that both players were limited in practice, which typically bodes well for game-day availability. Expect both to be trending toward playing, but this could come down to how they feel during pregame warmups.
Taylor Decker’s status is another one to watch. He didn’t practice Wednesday, and if he can’t go, that’s a big hole on Jared Goff’s blind side. The Lions’ offensive line has been one of their biggest strengths all season, but losing a veteran tackle like Decker could disrupt that cohesion.
Minnesota Vikings: Major Offensive Pieces Missing
The Vikings will be without several key players, including:
- TE Gavin Bartholomew (back)
- TE T.J. Hockenson (shoulder)
- RB Jordan Mason (ankle)
- **QB J.J.
McCarthy** (right hand)
Let’s start with T.J. Hockenson - this is a big one.
He’s not just a Pro Bowl-caliber tight end; he’s been a safety valve and mismatch weapon for Minnesota all season. Without him, the Vikings lose a crucial piece of their short-to-intermediate passing game, especially in the red zone.
Jordan Mason being out further thins a running back room that’s already been inconsistent this year. And while J.J. McCarthy hasn’t been the starter, his absence means the Vikings’ quarterback depth gets even thinner - never a great situation this late in the season.
As for Gavin Bartholomew, the team has already made the call not to bring him back this week. If he doesn’t return for the season finale, he’ll finish the year without taking a snap - a disappointing outcome for a player the team had hopes for.
One player to keep an eye on is offensive tackle Brian O’Neill, listed as questionable with a heel injury. He was a game-time decision last week, and it’s shaping up to be the same situation this time around. O’Neill is one of the anchors of the Vikings’ offensive line, and if he’s unable to go, that’s a significant loss against a Detroit front that can bring real pressure off the edge.
What It All Means for Monday
Both teams are dealing with injuries at key positions, and while the Lions are the healthier squad on paper, the sheer number of questionable tags makes it hard to predict how their lineup will look when the ball is kicked off.
For Detroit, the focus will be on whether their stars - particularly St. Brown and Montgomery - are ready to go.
If they are, the Lions should be able to lean on their balanced attack. But if either is limited, it puts more pressure on Jared Goff and the supporting cast to step up.
Minnesota, meanwhile, will need to get creative without Hockenson and Mason, and potentially without O’Neill. With the offense already navigating some inconsistency this year, missing those pieces could make sustaining drives a challenge.
This game has playoff implications and division pride on the line. And as is often the case in December, the injury report might end up being just as important as the game plan. We’ll know more closer to kickoff, but for now, both coaching staffs are preparing for multiple contingencies - and fans should too.