Detroit Lions injury updates: Alim McNeill, Aidan Hutchinson, Alex Anzalone

The list of injured Detroit Lions players is very long, with 18 players on IR and a few others who missed last Thursday night's game against the Green Bay Packers. So along with a look ahead to next Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills, head coach Dan Campbell was asked for injury updates when he talked to reporters on Monday afternoon.

As far as players who missed or were injured during last Thursday night's game, here's what Campbell said.

"I don't know — I know this, everyone of our guys, it's much more positive. Everyone is healing up. We're better than we were last week," Campbell said. "I don't know yet how many we'll get back, and honestly I might not know until Thursday of this week just exactly where we're at. I'm feeling better about (Taylor) Decker, but yet I need to see. And the d-line is in flux. There's a chance Levi (Onwuzurike) could be back. (Alim McNeill) Mac's got to pass protocol and everything, and he did not take a step back so as long as he can clear that sounds positive. But it's just gonna take time to figure some of this out."

Campbell confirmed that Alim McNeill is in concussion protocol after leaving the game against the Packers in the first half, returning and eventually being ruled out for the second half.

Campbell did not specifically mention defensive lineman Josh Paschal in his run-down of players who missed last week's game. Time will tell if that is notable as the week goes on, but for now we can speculatively put him in the same boat as Levi Onwuzurike, with a chance to play against the Bills.

Detroit Lions injury updates: IR players, Aidan Hutchinson

Campbell was then asked about players who are on IR and could return this season.

"We'll have that conversation about (Ennis) Rakestraw and Iffy (Melifonwu) next week, because that'll be through their four-week period," Campbell said. "We feel like Alex (Anzalone) is on pace to towards the end of this season. Could be the last game, might not be 'til the playoffs, but we feel good about getting him back. I think Kalif (Raymond) is probably in that boat, probably where Alex is at. And then Jalen Reeves-Maybin is better, but it's just slow-going right now. I don't really know where he could be. There's a chance we get him in a few weeks, there's a chance we don't."

Freshly fueled by a report from Jay Glazer of FOX Sports on Sunday about a new possible return timeline, Campbell was asked about Aidan Hutchison.

"Honestly, I'm where I was when the injury happened, and that's always just saying, 'Look, this is a tough injury.' It is, but I would just never count him out just knowing who he is," Campbell said. "And he's working, he is progressing, but I can't say — I can't give you a timeline. And I don't know if he'll have the time to get there, but if anyone could, it's him."