Fresh injury news fortifies the status of Lions LB Alex Anzalone vs. Vikings

Sunday marks seven weeks since Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone suffered a broken left forearm against the Jacksonville Jaguars. That's right in the middle of what was put out there as a 6-8 week recovery timetable, and Anzalone returned to practice this week before being listed as questionable for Sunday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Anzalone was activated from IR on Saturday, which would not likely have been done unless he was going to play on Sunday night. Of course nothing will be concrete until inactives are announced before kickoff, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport had an update on Anzalane Sunday morning.

"Alex Anzalone is coming back tonight," Rapoport said. "One of the play-making linebackers on the Lions, really one of the leaders of their defense. He is a mad-man on the field. You watch him play, I mean this guy does it all, and now he is going to play just a couple weeks after fracturing his forearm. Was officially activated yesterday, will play tonight. My understanding is that they're gonna monitor his snaps and he will wear a special pad on his forearm to protect him. But he is in."

Alex Anzalone to play vs. Vikings, but be on a snap count

Anzalone acknowledged the risk/reward attached to playing this week, while also acknowledging he's not 100 percent and has a steel plate in his forearm. He was spotted during Thursday's practice wearing a brace/cast, and as Rapoport noted (and as would be expected), he will wear something on his arm when he plays.

Anzalone posted this on Instagram Sunday morning, with the caption "Everyone wants to be a dog until you have to so some dog sh**." That feels like a personal confirmation he's playing Sunday night.

Even on a snap count, as would be expected without Rapoport reporting it, the Lions' defense needs Anzalone's skill and veteran presence back on the field badly. As shown below by Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network, its fair to say no injury absence has been more negatively impactful than his when looking at DVOA. The surface results also reflect that, with the Lions allowing 31 or more points in three of their last four games.

Anzalone will surely go through pregame warmups with as much intensity as he can before the Lions announce their inactives. But barring a complete shift in the positive momentum there is, No. 34 will be out their in the all-black uniforms for the biggest game of the Lions' season to date.