Lions S Brian Branch is questionable for Sunday's game against the Bears with a calf injury. He put in limited practices Thursday and Friday after missing Wednesday's workout. We'll check his status ahead of the game Sunday.
Lions CB Carlton Davis fractured his jaw in Sunday's loss to the Bills. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that he'll have surgery and "be sidelined indefinitely." NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported a six-week timeline. Either way, Davis is clearly done for at least the rest of the regular season.
Lions DT Alim McNeill left Sunday's loss to the Bills with a right knee injury. HC Dan Campbell said after the game that it "could be season-ending," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Lions LB Alex Anzalone left Sunday's game with an injury to his left forearm. HC Dan Campbell said afterward that Anzalone suffered a fracture that will knock him out for 6-8 weeks.
The Lions are listing Edge Za'Darius Smith as questionable for Sunday night's game against the Texans. The team reportedly gave Smith two days off after his trade from Cleveland this week. He was listed as a full practice participant Friday but is understandably still learning the defense.
The Browns are trading Edge Za'Darius Smith to the Lions for a 2025 fifth-round pick and a late-round pick swap in 2026. Smith has 5 sacks and 7 QB hits through nine games. He joins a Detroit defense that has tallied 5 sacks over three games since Edge Aidan Hutchinson went down -- including just 1 total sack over the past two weeks.
The Lions announced Monday that Edge Aidan Hutchinson had successful surgery on his fractured left tibia and fibula Sunday night in Texas. He's traveling back to Detroit this week with no timeline yet determined for his return to the field. Hutchinson will miss the rest of this season, though. Detroit will need to figure out its edge spots the way. The other season-opening starter, Marcus Davenport, previously landed on season-ending IR. Don't be surprised if the Lions trade for help at the position.
Lions Edge Aidan Hutchinson left in the third quarter of Sunday's game against the Cowboys after suffering a serious left leg injury. Replay pretty clearly shows a fracture in the lower leg. We'll see about the damage beyond that. But it seems pretty safe to assume Hutchinson will miss the rest of the season.
The Lions have added S Brian Branch to the injury report and list him as doubtful for Monday's game against the Seahawks. Branch was originally dealing with a concussion but cleared the protocol, put in two full practices and didn't carry a game status on the week's final injury report. This addition especially hurts a secondary that placed S Ifeatu Melifonwu on IR Saturday. Jeff Risdon reports that undrafted rookie Loren Strickland and second-year player Brandon Joseph will fill in for Branch, next to Kerby Joseph. If you're stuck look for an IDP fill-in, I wouldn't recommend trying either of those young players. If Kerby Joseph's not available, CBs Carlton Davis, Terrion Arnold, and Amik Robertson will be safer bets for playing time. Otherwise, target the best available option among Seahawks, Titans, and Dolphins DBs.
Lions S Brian Branch left Sunday's win over the Cardinals after a head-to-head collision with TE Trey McBride. HC Dan Campbell said Monday that Branch is in the concussion protocol and considered day-to-day. We'll see about his chances of returning for next Monday night's home date with Seattle. That timing could make it tough to wait for Branch in IDP lineups. Make sure you secure an insurance option this week.
Lions LB Alex Anzalone is inactive for today's game against the Cardinals because of a concussion. That should leave LBs Derrick Barnes and Jack Campbell playing full-time snaps -- or at least near full.
Lions Jack Campbell endured a disappointing first season, considering the team drafted him 18th overall and made Campbell a starter before the middle of the year. But it sounds like he might be ready to rebound with a big Year 2. DC Aaron Glenn began speaking of Campbell's improvement even before the team hit the field for spring workouts. It has reportedly showed in the LB's play as well, including 2 INTs off Jared Goff in Tuesday's minicamp practice. Campbell seems to be trending toward more of a full-time role in 2024.
The Lions traded up to the 24th spot in Round 1 of the NFL Draft to select CB Terrion Arnold. He spent just three years at Alabama, the past two as a starter. He snared 5 INTs as a junior. Arnold plays the wrong position to make a significant impact in most IDP dynasty leagues, though.
Lions HC Dan Campbell said Thursday that S C.J. Gardner-Johnson is ready to return from his Week 2 pectoral tear and could start practicing as soon as next week. "He's one of the X-Men, he's got these mutant genes because he has healed extremely quickly, and he's gotten his strength back. It is secure," Campbell said, according to ESPN's Eric Woodyard. "So, yeah, he's going to be ready to go here pretty soon." Campbell added that they still need to work out the "plan" for getting Gardner-Johnson back into football shape. It's tough to expect him to make an impact in IDP lineups before the end of this season, but we'll watch the safety's status.
Lions LB Alex Anzalone put in a full week of practice and doesn't appear on the final injury report ahead of Sunday's game against the Bears. That means he's ready to return after missing Week 13 with a hand injury. Anzalone's return should decrease the playing time for rookie LB Jack Campbell, who got a boost with Anzalone out. Campbell did notch 9 tackles (5 solo) on just 61% playing time in the Week 11 meeting with the Bears but shouldn't be central to your Week 14 IDP plans. Check our Week 14 LB rankings to see where both Lions LBs land.
Lions LB Alex Anzalone is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Saints with a hand injury that kept him out of practice all week. He hurt the hand late in the Thanksgiving loss to the Packers. DC Aaron Glenn said Friday that LB Jack Campbell will take over the MLB role and call plays in the defensive huddle. That gives Campbell significant fantasy upside, especially in a game that could find RB Alvin Kamara leading New Orleans in receiving. We've boosted Campbell into LB2 territory of our Week 13 IDP rankings.
Lions rookie DB Brian Branch returned Sunday after missing two games with a sprained ankle. But returned to a smaller role than what he left. The second-round pick played 68% and 69% of snaps the first two games. That grew to 100% in Week 3, after the team lost S C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Branch again started in Week 4 and appeared headed for similar use but left that game early with the ankle injury. But in his return game against the Ravens, the rookie played just 50% of snaps. He closed the practice week with a full Friday workout and carried no injury designation into the game. So we're not betting the ankle limited his time. Instead, it appears the Lions preferred to keep more LBs on the field and run fewer alignments of 5+ DBs. That left Branch, the nickel CB, less involved. Based on how Detroit has run its defense otherwise, we're guessing it was a specific shift for Lamar Jackson. It did not work. Branch's usage will make him tough to trust in Week 8 IDP lineups for an upside Raiders matchup. We'll watch for some indication that his playing time will increase.
Lions CB Jerry Jacobs is inactive for today's game against the Ravens. He was a late addition to the injury report with a knee issue. Pregame warm-ups found him unready to play.
Lions DB Brian Branch is off the final injury report and ready to play Sunday against the Ravens. The rookie missed the past two games after suffering an ankle sprain against the Packers in Week 4. He finished this week with a full Friday practice, though, and no game designation. Branch said earlier in the week he expected to play. Bet on a return to full playing time. Although he's listed as a safety on most fantasy platforms, Branch has primarily played slot CB. That should keep him busy in this matchup, with Nelson Agholor, Zay Flowers, and Mark Andrews all seeing significant time there. We have bumped the rookie way up our Week 7 DB rankings.
The Lions have ruled S Brian Branch (ankle) out for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers. Without Branch last week, the Detroit secondary found Kerby Joseph and Tracy Walker at safety with Will Harris manning the slot between CBs Cameron Sutton and Jerry Jacobs.
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