The Detroit Lions injury report continues to be pretty long on a weekly basis. But after the news running back David Montgomery will miss some time early in the week, the news turned good as running back Jahmyr Gibbs and defensive back Brian Branch are set to return after each missing the last two games.
The Lions had a light practice on Wednesday this week, as head coach Dan Campbell cited being in a "meat grinder" lately, and sensing an opportunity to ease up for a day. It was not necessarily an acknowledgement of injuries and trying to mitigate them, but the Lions' bye is not coming until Week 9 and a light day was in order.
With designations for Sunday's game, here is the final Week 7 injury report for the Lions.
Detroit Lions Week 7 injury report vs. Baltimore Ravens
RB David Montgomery (ribs)-Out
OG Jonah Jackson (ankle)-Out
RB Craig Reynolds (hamstring/toe)-Questionable
TE James Mitchell (hamstring)-Questionable
DL Josh Paschal (knee)-Questionable
RB Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring)-No designation
DB Brian Branch (ankle)-No designation
TE Sam LaPorta (calf)-No Designation
C Frank Ragnow (toe)-No designation
QB Teddy Bridgewater (knee)-No designation
No injury designations for Gibbs, Branch and LaPorta, which is obviously great news. Gibbs and Branch will return to action this week, as expected.
As also expected, Montgomery and Jackson will be out. Montgomery seems sure to be out through the Lions' Week 9 bye, and Jackson will miss his second straight game. Kayode Awosika started in Jackson's place at left guard last week against Tampa Bay, and he'll presumably do so again on Sunday. Halapoulivaati Vaitai is not yet 100 percent from the knee injury that cost him a couple games, so it doesn't look like he's an option to start in Jackson's place.
After seeing the most action he has seen all season last week, after Montgomery left the game, Reynolds popped up on the injury report this week with toe and hamstring issues. Devine Ozigbo is likely to be elevated from the practice squad again this week for running back depth. Mohamed Ibrahim is an option to be brought up from the practice squad too, after being brought back this week.
Friday morning, Dan Campbell strongly hinted that Paschal will play on Sunday. The move to take him off IR is likely coming Saturday.
"I feel like he’s gotten better every day,” Campbell said of Paschal’s evaluation process. “We started his clock last Friday and he looks pretty good. So, I think the thought is we’ll probably get him going here and it’s good to have him back.”
Mitchell has missed the last two games, so it looks there's a chance he'll be back as the Lions' No. 3 tight end on Sunday.
Here's the Week 7 injury report for the Ravens.
Baltimore Ravens Week 7 injury report
S Marcus Williams (hamstring)-Out
CB Kevon Seymour (ankle)-Out
DE Jadeveon Clowney (rest/knee)-No designation
CB Ronald Darby (illness)-No designation
LB Malik Harrison (concussion)-No designation
OLB Odafe Oweh (ankle)-No designation
DE Brent Urban (neck)-No designation