Lions exercising extra caution with DJ Chark’s injured ankle

DJ Chark will miss a second straight game on Sunday, but the Lions are simply exercising some extra caution.

Lions wide receiver DJ Chark was downgraded from questionable to out for the day before last week’s game against the Seattle Seahawks due to an ankle injury. It’s an injury to the same ankle he injured and had surgically repaired last year as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, costing him 13 games, but any extra concern in that regard has been set aside publicly.

Mid-week this past week, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Chark seemed optimistic he’d play on Sunday against the New England Patriots.

"It’s better,” Chark said in the locker room after practice Wednesday. “What’s today, Wednesday? Times 10 (better) than last Wednesday. That’s always great.”"

Chark missed practice on Thursday, then on Friday’s injury report he was ruled out for Sunday. It was a little surprising he was ruled out, though a player’s optimism on an injury should always be taken with a grain of salt.

Lions exercising extra caution with DJ Chark’s ankle

Lions head coach Dan Campbell openly talked this week about the benefit of the team’s Week 6 bye in getting a long list of injured players healthy.

After being ruled out for Sunday’s game, via Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire, Chark said he’s not dealing with a serious injury (or a re-injury, as it were).

"It’s nothing structural,” Chark said. When asked why he was being held out of Sunday’s game in New England, Chark described it as “more of a feel”."

Chark and Jared Goff have struggled to connect consistently early this season, and if Chark isn’t totally healthy it won’t be helpful to changing that. So it’s better to hold him out this week if there are any concerns about his ankle, then give him the bye week to get some extra rest and healing.