The Detroit Lions will welcome the Los Angeles Rams back to Detroit for a rematch of last year's Wild Card Round game in the season opener on Sunday night. A lot of their injury concerns from over the course of training camp and the preseason have been diminished, and as is not unusual heading into the first game it's a short injury report for Week 1.
Here's the official Week 1 injury report for the Lions, with game statuses for Sunday night.
- S Loren Strickland (thumb)-Out
- S Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle)-Doubtful
- DT DJ Reader (quadricep)-Questionable
Melifonwu's status for the season opener was first cast into doubt by a vague indications about the injury he was dealing with from head coach Dan Campbell after the preseason finale. A fresh update this week revealed it was some kind of Achilles' issue (as reported by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).
On Friday morning, Campbell said he was not all that optimistic Melifonwu would play on Sunday night and the doubtful listing make it highly unlikely he will.
Campbell was more optimistic about Reader on Friday morning. The Lions' biggest free agent signing missed all of training camp as he rehabbed a torn quad tendon. The goal has been for him to play Week 2, but the season opener was never totally ruled out. Being listed as questionable
If Reader does play, as easily expected, Campbell acknowledged he would likely be on a snap count against the Rams.
"Yeah, he looked pretty good (in practice)," Campbell said. "Now it's just a matter of, if he plays, how much can he play? And by doing that, does that, will he have the ability to get a little bit more next week or is it just a sit back and we're just kind of even right now....But, man, he's continued to get better every day, took a lot more yesterday which was good."
Strickland, the undrafted rookie out of Ball State who made a surprising run to win a spot on the 53-man roster, did not practice all week and he will be out Sunday night.
With Melifonwu and Strickland likely both out, the Lions are left with three healthy safeties (Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, Brandon Joseph) on the active roster. Erick Hallett is a possible practice squad elevation, but he's only been with the team a little more than a week.
Here's a look at the Week 1 injury report for the Rams.
- OL Jonah Jackson (shoulder)-No designation
- WR Puka Nacua (knee)-No designation
- OL Rob Havenstein (ankle)-Questionable
- CB Cobie Durant (hamstring)-No designation
- CB Tre'Davious White (Not injury-related/rest)-No designation
The Rams notably placed starting cornerback Darious Williams on IR Thursday, after he "re-tweaked" a hamstring injury.
The offensive line looks like a trouble spot for Los Angeles. Left tackle Alaric Jackson will serve the first of a two-game suspension this week. The former Lion Jackson will play center after missing most of training camp with a shoulder injury, and right tackle Havenstein is listed as questionable.