The Detroit Lions have withstood a level of injuries on the defensive side of the ball that has rarely, if ever, been seen in the NFL. Entering Week 15 13 defensive players were on IR, and thankfully four defensive lineman were back on the field against the Buffalo Bills after missing or being injured during Week 14.
Stopping Josh Allen was not going to be possible on Sunday, with somewhat containing him a more viable goal. But that proved too much for an injury-riddled Lions' defense. In particular, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady found passing game matchups to exploit with running back (and former Lion) Ty Johnson against overmatched fill-in linebackers to the tune of five receptions for 114 yards.
Allen threw for 362 yards (254 in the first half) and two touchdowns, along with 68 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground in leading Buffalo to a 48-42 win over the Lions. The Bills had 559 yards of offense, to the Lions' 521.
Lions add to litany of defensive injuries in loss to the Bills
Three more Lions' defensive players went down on Sunday.
Cornerback Carlton Davis initially exited to be evaluated for a concussion along with a jaw injury, and was later ruled out for the game only noting the jaw injury.
Cornerback Khalil Dorsey, who came into the game for Davis, suffered what was deemed to be an ankle injury but looked like much more than that. He was put in an air cast and carted off the field.
Defensive tackle Alim McNeill suffered a knee injury on a pass rush, and he was quickly ruled out.
Alim McNeill R knee injury video
— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) December 15, 2024
-Lands hard on R leg. Hope just mild bone bruise.
-Meniscus possible.
-Didn't see any significant deformity of knee which is reassuring. pic.twitter.com/FZUC61RQXI
After the game, with no doubt about Dorsey's status with an injury he described as similar to Aidan Hutchinson's (fractured tibia and fibula), head coach Dan Campbell was asked about Davis and McNeill.
“We’ll know more tomorrow, (but) I don’t feel good about either one of those guys,” Campbell said.
When asked if that meant those injuries could also be season-ending, Campbell clarified.
“Yeah, normally if I’m saying, ‘I don’t feel good,’ that means not good for the rest of the year. So, I don’t feel good about it.”
Campbell said he wasn't sure if McNeill's injury was an ACL, pending further tests.