The Detroit Lions could be severely compromised in their regular-season opener against the Arizona Cardinals due to injuries suffered by four starters.
The Detroit Lions will kick off their regular season on the road against the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday. And they’ll do so with four of their starters designated as questionable for the game due to injuries. Now, one of those starters has been downgraded to officially out.
On Friday, the Lions released their final injury report. And of the five players listed on the report, four of them were considered questionable for the regular-season opener in Glendale, Arizona. Those projected starters being linebacker Jarrad Davis (ankle), cornerback Rashaan Melvin (knee), center Frank Ragnow (ankle), and defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand (elbow).
All four players were limited throughout each of the Lions’ practice sessions this past week and received the game status of questionable, which is defined as the player is not certain to play in the upcoming contest.
Now, one of the questionable players has been officially downgraded as out against the Cardinals. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Hand will miss the Lions’ regular-season opener in Arizona as he was only able to practice for a short time on Friday following his return from an elbow injury.
A fourth-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, Hand’s play last season was hailed as one of the biggest surprises by a rookie as he excelled in head coach Matt Patricia’s defensive scheme. The 23-year old defender recorded 27 total tackles and 3.0 sacks while starting in eight of his 13 games.
Also appearing on the Lions’ final injury report was the team’s biggest offseason acquisition, Trey Flowers. The former New England Patriot defensive end was limited at practice on both Wednesday and Thursday due to a shoulder injury. But he was a full participant during practice on Friday.
Lions Friday injury report w/ game designations pic.twitter.com/mWtkRSZCuL
— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) September 6, 2019
As for the Arizona Cardinals’ final injury report, they had five players listed with offensive linemen Lamont Gaillard and Marcus Gilbert officially out with knee injuries. While linebackers Haason Reddick (knee) and Ezekiel Turner (hand) were both listed as questionable for Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Lions.