The Detroit Lions have been pretty healthy overall for several weeks going back to coming out of their Week 9 bye. There has been an occasional notable player whose status was in doubt (Sam LaPorta) or they missed a game (Alex Anzalone), but the weekly injury reports have been short and relatively uneventful.
As the Lions approach kickoff of their Divisional Round game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, the injury report this week was short. Only three players were given a designation for the game. In the second round of the playoffs, that's pretty good.
Wide receiver/punt returner Kalif Raymond was ruled on Friday. He'll miss a second straight game after suffering a knee injury in the regular season finale against the Minnesota Vikings. Donovan Peoples-Jones took over punt return duties last week against the Rams, and he will likely do so again on Sunday.
Tight end Sam LaPorta is managing the left knee injury he suffered in the regular season finale, and even with a questionable listing it would be a massive surprise.
Edge rusher James Houston was activated from IR on Thursday, as he works his way back from a fractured ankle he suffered in Week 2, then head coach Dan Campbell was non-committal about him actually playing on Sunday. Houston was ultimately listed as questionable, keeping the door open for him to suit up (as expected).
On the Tampa Bay side, linebacker Shaq Barrett (ankle), running back Chase Edmonds (toe) and quarterback John Wolford (illness) were listed as questionable on Friday. Wide receiver Chris Godwin (knee) and quarterback Baker Mayfield (ankle/ribs) were not listed with an injury designation and they will play.
Here are the Lions' inactives for Sunday.
- WR Kalif Raymond
- S Tracy Walker
- LB James Houston
- QB Hendon Hooker (emergency No. 3 quarterback)
- DE Charles Harris
- DT Brodric Martin
- CB Steven Gilmore
Walker is a healthy scratch for the second time in as may playoff games. Harris is a healthy scratch again, as is Martin and Gilmore as they have been most of the season.
After being activated from IR and listed as questionable, Houston is inactive. The Lions seem to be hoping to have him for games after Sunday, should they have any.
And here are Sunday's inactive players for the Buccaneers.
- OT Silas Dzansi
- WR Rakim Jarrett
- QB John Wolford
- OT Brandon Walton
- RB Patrick Laird
- OLB Markees Watts
- LB J.J. Russell