Lions at Vikings: 3 starters questionable on final injury report

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 14: Darius Slay #23 of the Detroit Lions celebrates with teammates Ezekiel Ansah #94 and Andre Fluellen #96 after intercepting a pass from quarterback Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the Minnesota Vikings (not in photo) during the second quarter of the game at Ford Field on December 14, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 14: Darius Slay #23 of the Detroit Lions celebrates with teammates Ezekiel Ansah #94 and Andre Fluellen #96 after intercepting a pass from quarterback Teddy Bridgewater #5 of the Minnesota Vikings (not in photo) during the second quarter of the game at Ford Field on December 14, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Detroit Lions could be without three of their key starters against the Vikings this Sunday in what is a key divisional matchup for Motown.

The Detroit Lions are currently 3-4 in the standings and in last place in the NFC North. But they are also just one game out of first place as the 4-3 Chicago Bears, 4-3-1 Minnesota Vikings, and the 3-3-1 Green Bay Packers make this division race the closest in the NFL.

The Lions can close the gap this weekend when they take on the Vikings in U.S. Bank Stadium, a place where Detroit is undefeated since it’s opening in 2016. The Motor City hopes that streak continues in their first meeting of the year with their divisional foes.

But it appears the Lions could be without as many as three of their key starters when they take on the Vikings this Sunday. Cornerback Darius Slay, right guard T.J. Lang, and defensive end Ezekiel Ansah are all listed as questionable for the Week Nine matchup in Minnesota.

Slay was a surprise appearance on the injury report Friday as the 2017 Pro Bowl and All-Pro cornerback is suffering from a knee injury. He was not listed on the report on either Wednesday or Thursday. Slay was limited during Friday’s practice session and is now questionable for the matchup against the Vikings.

If Slay is unable to suit up, this is terrible news for Detroit as their secondary got torched last weekend by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. Particularly, former second-round cornerback Teez Tabor. Now the Lions are set to face the league’s third-best passing offense in Vikings’ new quarterback Kirk Cousins and his elite wide receiver corps.

dark. Next. Lions draft picks - Good, Bad, Ugly since 2010

Also making their weekly appearance on the injury report are Lang and Ansah. T.J. Lang has struggled with injuries ever since signing with Detroit as a free agent in 2017. Ziggy Ansah suffered a shoulder injury in Week One and has yet to return to the field. Both were limited in practice all week.

Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin has been downgraded as doubtful for the matchup in Minnesota. You can view the entire Lions injury report by clicking here at DetroitLions.com.