The Detroit Lions and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play each other for the third time in a calendar year on Sunday, as the Lions have an interesting (in a good way) scheduling quirk.
The practice reports for the Lions this week were populated by some notable names, with one particularly big potential injury concern.
Here is the Week 2 injury report for the Lions, with official designations for Sunday.
- S Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle)-Out
- WR Isaiah Williams (abdomen)-Out
- DE Marcus Davenport (groin)-Doubtful
- OT Penei Sewell (ankle)-Questionable
- WR Jameson Williams (ankle)-Questionable
- S Kerby Joseph (hamstring)-Questionable
- DT DJ Reader (quad)-No designation
- CB Carlton Davis (chest)-No designation
- S Loren Strickland (thumb)-No designation
With no practice participation this week, Melifonwu appears to be going backwards in his recovery from an ankle (Achilles'?) injury. Dan Campbell had a vague outlook on his injury after the preseason opener, and it's increasingly looking like an IR placement at roster cuts should have happened.
Isaiah Williams popped up on the injury report Thursday, and he missed practice on Friday. The elevation of a wide receiver from the practice squad is surely happening this week anyway, and the undrafted rookie's absence fortifies that.
Davenport did not practice all week, but the door is not being totally shut on him playing Sunday with a doubtful listing. Per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press after Friday's practice, Davenport did not provide an update on his health or say if he expects to play on Sunday.
Sewell returned to a limited practice on Friday, which curbs some of the concern about his right ankle injury after he missed practice Wednesday and Thursday. Since missing practice on Wednesday, per multiple reporters, Sewell has been adamant that he's playing on Sunday.
Joseph graduated to limited practices on Thursday and Friday after sitting out on Wednesday. So he appears on track to play.
Jameson Williams was limited all week with an ankle injury. There doesn't appear to be any concern about his availability for Sunday, as simple caution was likely taken by holding back his practice activity.
As expected, Reader will make his Lions' debut on Sunday. Davis' chest injury from last week was never considered very serious, so he's good to go against his former team. Strickland, the undrafted rookie out of Ball State who won a spot on the 53-man roster, seems set to make his debut after missing Week 1.
Here's the Week 2 injury report for the Buccaneers. Of particular note are all the injuries in their secondary, headlined by Antoine Winfield, and starting right tackle Luke Goedeke being out.
- S Antoine Winfield (foot)-Out
- OT Luke Goedeke (concussion-Out
- DT Calijah Kancey (calf)-Out
- CB Josh Hayes (ankle)-Out
- CB Zyon McCollum (concussion)-Questionable
- CB Tykee Smith (illness)-Questionable
- DL Logan Hall (foot)-Questionable
- DL William Gholston (elbow)-No designation
- LB K.J. Britt (illness)-No designation
- WR Mike Evans (rest)-No designation
- LB Lavonte David (rest)-No designation