The Walking Dead: Detroit Lions lose two more starters to injury

The Detroit Lions are out of playoff contention. And now, their seemingly out of players as two more starters have landed on Injured Reserve.

And for Motown, the hits keep on coming. The 3-9-1 Detroit Lions are out of playoff contention and will finish as the last place team in the NFC North for the second season in a row. With three games left to be played on their regular season schedule, including a home matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday, the Pride aren’t playing for pride … but for draft position.

The Lions are in-line to secure a top-five selection in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. That is if Detroit’s current six-game losing streak continues. And there doesn’t appear to be a reason it shouldn’t especially after the Lions placed two more starters on Injured Reserve on Saturday.

Linebacker Jarrad Davis and left guard Joe Dahl have now been placed on IR according to ESPN NFL Senior Insider Adam Schefter. Both starters are dealing with knee injuries. Davis also has a ankle injury while Dahl’s dealing with back issues as well.

A former first round selection out of Florida in 2017, the 25-year old Davis has never quite lived up to his draft status in Detroit. He’ll end his third season with the Lions recording 63 total tackles, 2.0 sacks and one pass defend in 11 games.

A longtime backup for the Lions, Dahl started a career-high 13 games in his fourth season in Detroit. Originally a fifth-round selection in 2016 by then first-time general manager Bob Quinn, the 26-year old has proven to be a valuable member of the offensive line in the Motor City.

The Detroit Lions will face the 6-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers without several of their starters. Along with Jarrad Davis and Joe Dahl being moved to Injured Reserve on Saturday, the Lions have already officially ruled out quarterback Matthew Stafford, defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, and right tackle Rick Wagner for the Week 15 matchup against the Bucs.