Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Logs full practice Wednesday
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Melifonwu (hand) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
On the same day he was designated to return from injured reserve, Melifonwu started out strong with a full practice in the Lions' first official practice of the week Wednesday. He's been sidelined for the entire regular season due to ankle and hand injuries, but if he's able to practice in full over the next two days, he would be on track to make his 2024 regular-season debut against the Bears on Sunday.
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Lions' Brian Branch: Nursing calf injury
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Branch (calf) was listed as a DNP on Wednesday's practice report.
Branch logged a career-high 15 total tackles and played in every defensive snap during the Lions' 48-42 loss to the Bills this past Sunday. However, it appears the second-year safety picked up a calf injury in the process and was sidelined for Detroit's first official practice of the week. Branch will have two more chances to practice this week ahead of Sunday's NFC North clash against the Bears. He's logged 85 tackles (62 solo), 14 pass defenses (including four interceptions) and one forced fumble across 13 regular-season games.
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Lions' Ifeatu Melifonwu: Designated to return
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Melifonwu (undisclosed) was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
The Syracuse product has yet to play this season due to an ankle injury and an undisclosed issue. However, his 21-day practice window opened Wednesday, suggesting he's nearing a return to the field. If Melifonwu is activated to Detroit's active roster in time for the Week 16 matchup against the Bears, he could serve as the team's top reserve safety. If not, Brandon Joseph is likely to occupy that role.
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Lions' Aidan Hutchinson: Still aiming to return for Super Bowl
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Hutchinson (tibia/fibula) said Tuesday in an appearance on "The Squeeze" podcast that he's continuing to eye a return to the field in the Super Bowl, should the Lions advance that far in the postseason. "I'm at that mark and I'm on track for my goal of returning for the Super Bowl," Hutchinson said. "I keep telling all the boys when I see them in the facility, I'm like, 'You guys just got to get there and I promise you I'm going to be back.'"
Before fracturing his tibia and fibula in a Week 6 win at Dallas and undergoing surgery Oct. 13, Hutchinson looked like the frontrunner for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award through the Lions' first five games of the season, as he recorded 7.5 sacks and a forced fumble during that stretch. The Lions have since suffered more personnel losses on defense that have tested the team's depth, but if Detroit is able to persevere and build further on last season's NFC Championship Game appearance, the team could get some major reinforcement in the Super Bowl in Hutchinson. The star defensive end has seemingly navigated his rehab program from surgery without any setbacks thus far, but he'll still likely need to get back on the practice field by mid-to-late January to have a chance at contributing in the Super Bowl, if the Lions are able to advance that far without him.
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Lions' Ben Niemann: Steps into more substantial role
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Niemann recorded five total tackles (two solo) and a pass defensed in Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Bills.
Niemann played a season-high 43 defensive snaps in Week 15 with Trevor Nowaske (concussion) unavailable, amongst others. The five tackles were Niemann's highest total of the year, and with the amount of injuries Detroit is dealing with, he'll likely operate in a similar role in Week 16 against the Bears.
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Lions' Khalil Dorsey: Placed on injured reserve
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The Lions placed Dorsey (ankle) on injured reserve Tuesday.
Dorsey suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the second quarter of Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Bills. With Carlton Davis (jaw) also on IR, Kindle Vildor is slated to start at outside cornerback opposite Terrion Arnold.
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Lions' Carlton Davis: Goes on injured reserve
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Detroit placed Davis (jaw) on injured reserve Tuesday.
As expected, Davis will go on injured reserve after fracturing his jaw during Sunday's 48-42 loss to Buffalo. The 2018 second-round pick is expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks once he undergoes surgery to address the injury, which opens the door for him to return for the NFC Championship Game if the Lions make it that far in the playoffs. With Davis and Khalil Dorsey (ankle) on IR, Kindle Vildor is expected to step into the second starting outside corner role opposite Terrion Arnold.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Placed on IR
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The Lions placed McNeill (knee) on injured reserve Tuesday.
As expected, McNeill will be on the Lions' injured reserve for the rest of the 2024 campaign after he tore the ACL in his right knee during Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Bills. With McNeill sidelined, Levi Onwuzurike is slated to move into the second starting defensive tackle role alongside DJ Reader.
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Lions' Carlton Davis: Out six weeks with broken jaw
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Davis is expected to be miss at least six weeks after sustaining a fractured jaw during Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Bills, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Davis will undergo surgery to address the injury, but if the reported six-week timeline holds up, the cornerback could be ready to return for the NFC Championship Game, if the Lions advance that far in the postseason. With Khalil Dorsey (ankle) also sustaining a season-ending injury Sunday, the Lions are likely to turn to Kindle Vildor to fill a starting role at cornerback beginning with their Week 16 game at Chicago.
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Lions' Jack Campbell: Double-digit stops in loss
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Campbell recorded 11 total tackles (eight solo) in Sunday's 48-42 loss to the Bills.
Campbell remained rather active in Week 15, reaching double-digit tackles for the first time since Week 9 versus the Packers. The linebacker has now reached at least eight takedowns in six of the last eight contests. Campbell is up to 109 total tackles (59 solo), including 1.5 sacks, and also added a forced fumble and three passes defensed over 14 games in 2024.
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Lions' Brian Branch: Career high in tackles in loss
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Branch recorded 15 total tackles (eight solo) in Sunday's 48-42 loss to Buffalo.
Branch paced the team in takedowns, compiling a career-high 15 stops in the battle between two high-octane offenses. With Detroit's defense banged up, including the secondary, Branch found himself involved in countless plays Sunday. It's the second time this year that the safety reached double-digit tackles and he's now registered 85 total tackles (62 solo), 13 passes defensed, including four interceptions, and a forced fumble over 13 games in 2024.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Injury believed to be serious
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Speaking after Sunday's loss to the Bills, coach Dan Campbell said he doesn't feel good about the chances of McNeill (knee) playing again this season, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
It's yet another potentially serious injury for the Detroit defense, as McNeill was injured in the third quarter Sunday and ruled out for the remainder of the game shortly after. Levi Onwuzurike is next up for snaps on the interior of the Lions' defensive line, a unit that has already lost seven players to injured reserve. Detroit's offense may have to turn things up a couple notches the rest of the way in order to make up for all of the injuries on the defensive side of the ball.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Suffers knee injury Week 15
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McNeill has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against Buffalo due to a knee issue.
McNeill was injured midway through the third quarter and was ruled out a few minutes before the end of the period. Prior to his exit, the defensive lineman tallied one tackle. Levi Onwuzurike could be in line for a bigger workload in McNeill's absence.
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Lions' Carlton Davis: Ruled out for remainder of Week 15
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Davis (jaw) won't return to Sunday's game against Buffalo.
Davis was hurt early in the second quarter while making a tackle. He was evaluated with a concussion and cleared, but the veteran corner nonetheless won't return to the contest due to a jaw injury he suffered on the play. Davis logged two assisted tackles prior to his exit. Khalil Dorsey entered in his stead but suffered an ankle injury and has also been ruled out, so Kindle Vildor is in line for a big workload the rest of the way.
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Lions' Khalil Dorsey: Early exit Sunday
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Dorsey (ankle) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's contest against the Bills.
Dorsey suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter, ultimately requiring a cart to get off the field. With Carlton Davis (head/jaw) also banged up, the Lions are getting thin quickly at cornerback versus Buffalo.
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Lions' Carlton Davis: Questionable to return Sunday
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Davis (head/jaw) is being evaluated for a concussion and is questionable to return to Sunday's contest against the Bills, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Davis is dealing with a head injury and, on top of that, he also picked up a jaw injury in the first half versus Buffalo. In the cornerback's absence, Khalil Dorsey and Kindle Vildor stand to see an increase in workload in Detroit's secondary.
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Lions' Jamal Adams: Signed from practice squad Saturday
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Adams was elevated from the practice squad Saturday ahead of Sunday's game against the Bills.
Adams played seven defensive snaps in the Week 14 win over the Packers, recording one solo tackle. He's expected to operate as a depth option at strong safety behind Brian Branch.
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Lions' Trevor Nowaske: Will miss Sunday's Week 15 game
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Nowaske (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's battle against Buffalo.
Nowaske popped up on the injury report this week with a concussion and has now been ruled out from playing Sunday. He'll need to clear the NFL's protocol for head injuries before being able to take the field again. In Nowaske's place Sunday, Ben Niemann could be slated for a significant role on defense.
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Lions' Levi Onwuzurike: Past hamstring issue
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Onwuzurike (hamstring) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Bills.
Onwuzurike didn't play in the Lions' Week 14 win over the Packers after sustaining a hamstring injury the week prior. However, he upgraded from limited work Wednesday and Thursday to a full practice session Friday, indicating that he's now recovered from the issue. Expect Onwuzurike to play as one of the Lions' top rotational interior defensive linemen in Week 15.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Clears protocol
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McNeill (concussion) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Bills.
McNeill practiced in full all week after sustaining a concussion in the Lions' Week 14 win over the Packers, and his omission from Friday's injury report indicates he has cleared the NFL's five-step protocol. With McNeill and DJ Reader both at full health, they're expected to cause problems for the Bills' interior run game in Week 15.
