The Detroit Lions had a fantastic day on Sunday, taking care of business like a good team when they face a bad team with a 52-6 dismantling of the Jacksonville Jaguars. But some bad developed late in the first half when linebacker Alex Anzalone suffered a left forearm injury when his arm was pinned between Brian Branch and Jaguars running back Travis Etienne.
When he gets to his feet, as trainers walked with him to the locker room to help stabilize his arm, Anzalone acknowledged the inevitable when he was captured by FOX cameras saying "it's broke."
Alex Anzalone injury video
— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) November 17, 2024
-Left forearm gets trapped here. Concern for left forearm fracture pic.twitter.com/YbtaKLGfxv
Anzalone was initially ruled questionable to return to Sunday's game, as generally happens right after after an injury, then he was fairly quickly (and unsurprisingly) ruled out for the remainder of the game.
After the game, via SI.com, Campbell confirmed the likely prognosis for Anzalone to 97.1 The Ticket sideline reporter T.J, Lang
“Yeah, look, he’s probably gonna be down for a while. It doesn’t look good," Campbell said. "I think it looks like he broke that bone down there in the forearm. So, we’re gonna lose him for a bit. But, he’ll bounce back, man. He does. If anything, that’ll put he and Hutch together, and they can get their a** back together. So, that’s hard.”
During his postgame session with reporters, Campbell had a clearer cut update on the Lions' linebacker. Anzalone has a broken forearm, and he will be out 6-8 weeks.
Alex Anzalone has a broken forearm, out 6 to 8 weeks, per Dan Campbell
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) November 17, 2024
Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone out 6-8 weeks with broken forearm
The Lions have seven games left in the regular season. So Anzalone could return for the playoffs.
Before his injury on Sunday, Anzalone became the first Lions' linebacker to post seven or more tackles for loss in three straight seasons since DeAndre Levy (2012-2014). He was second on the team in tackles this season coming into the week.
.@Lions LB @AlexAnzalone34 is Detroit's first LB to post 7+ TFLs in three-straight seasons since LB DeAndre Levy from 2012-14.#OnePride pic.twitter.com/Zu4j71nzkf
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) November 17, 2024
The Lions were already injury-thinned at linebacker before Anzalone's injury, with Derrick Barnes likely out for the season with a knee injury and Jalen Reeves-Maybin on IR for at least two more games after suffering a neck injury in Week 9. So they are down to Jack Campbell, Malcolm Rodriguez, Ben Niemann, Trevor Nowaske and Ezekiel Turner as the five healthy linebackers on the 53-man roster right now.