Detroit Plays Primetime, But Could Be Without Many Key Players

Hope is lost inside the Detroit Lions fan club. Many people aren’t believing in the team right now as they have two tough games, at Dallas in primetime and home against a surging Green Bay team. For now the focus is on week 16 and the game against the Cowboys. Detroit may be down their top cornerback, along with their starting center and running back. Check out how the first injury report of week 16 turned out for Detroit.

Theo Riddick and Travis Swanson Miss Practice Again

Not a good start before the big week 16 game. Riddick and Swanson still didn’t practice on Thursday, giving fans less hope as their starting center and running back are out. Swanson is still in concussion protocol, while Riddick deals with that wrist injury. Hopefully as the week goes on we can see one of them reappear, even limited would do well for the team.

DeAndre Levy And Ziggy Ansah Limited As Usual

Nothing surprising here. Ziggy has and will be, limited in practice, but this time it is the shoulder injury he suffered last week. Levy is still limited with his knee injury, coming off a torn meniscus and will probably get limited snaps as well. Ziggy will play on limited snaps too, but for Levy he will get more and more snaps as the season progresses. He could return 100 percent against the Packers, or if the team makes the playoffs, he could play all the snaps then.

Haloti Ngata And Rafael Bush Join Injury Report

Some new faces appear on the injury report in Ngata and Bush. Ngata is limited with a quad injury, while Bush was also limited, but with a back injury. Since they are both limited, it seems that their chances of playing on MNF are high, but you can never be to sure. Bush would be the more likely of the two who could miss the game. Back injuries are serious and him playing could be a risk.

Darius Slay‘s Hamstring Keeps Him Out of Practice

Darius Slay is dealing with a hamstring injury, the same one that affected him earlier in the season. Rumors are saying he is out one to three weeks, and if Detroit misses the playoffs he could be done for the season. Don’t expect him to play in week 16, but a week 17 return could happen. If Detroit makes the playoffs, expect Slay to return by then.

Khyri Thornton Out With Illness

Defensive tackle Khyri Thornton was out of practice with an illness on Thursday. If he can get over the sickness by Monday, he could play. He may be a game-time decision and could even play with the illness like Riley Reiff did earlier this season.

Dallas Cowboys Injury Report

While the Dallas Cowboys looked exposed and not like the super team people thought they were a month ago. Not only do they looks shaky, they are banged up. Multiple defenders are limited or out of practice on Thursday. So get some hope up Lions fans, if Dallas is banged up this bad, Detroit has a shot to play spoiler.

Linebacker Sean Lee was limited with a knee injury, while defensive end Jack Crawford was limited as well with a foot injury. Six players missed practice on Thursday though. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and offensive tackle Tyron Smith missed with back injuries, while Smith also is dealing with a knee injury. Defensive tackle Cedric Thornton missed with an ankle injury. Linebacker Justin Durant missed with an elbow injury, defensive end Tyrone Crawford missed with a shoulder/hamstring and cornerback Morris Claiborne missed with a groin injury.

If Detroit faces this Dallas with that banged up line and linebacker core, Detroit has a shot to run the ball and possibly be able to put up some points.

Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @BKnappBlogs, find me on Reddit at /u/sportsguy4life and share your thoughts on the Detroit Lions subreddit.