The Detroit Lions enter Sunday relatively healthy, with only two players on the injury report and both already ruled out. Left guard Ben Bartch and safety Thomas Harper are out, while Detroit Lions guard Christian Mahogany returns to start at left guard, not listed at all. As Jeff Risdon noted, that is a clear boost before the New York Jets visit Ford Field.
Who is in and out on the Detroit Lions injury report?
Only two Lions appear on the report, and both are out. Left guard Ben Bartch is out with a foot injury and safety Thomas Harper is out with an ankle. Head coach Dan Campbell signaled this outcome in his Friday press conference, and the official report confirmed it.
The good news offsets the losses. Detroit Lions guard Christian Mahogany is not on the report, so he steps back in at left guard. Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff is also not listed, which removes any game-status ambiguity after his absence from the Thursday night debacle in Buffalo referenced on the show.
How will the offensive line look with Christian Mahogany and Blake Miller back?
Christian Mahogany starts at left guard, restoring the plan Detroit carried out before his injury. Rookie Detroit Lions right tackle Blake Miller is back and not even listed as questionable, which stabilizes the edge after a rough fill-in performance.
As Jeff Risdon explained, Miller brings a steady temperament and some outward nastiness that should help the run game, and his return reduces exposure in pass protection after tackle Larry Borom struggled. The continuity with Mahogany next to the center and Miller on the right should clean up both timing and physicality up front.
Who replaces Thomas Harper at safety, and what are the coverage adjustments?
The Lions will fill the starting safety spot from within, then lean on sub-packages to cover snaps. Jeff Risdon said he would strongly suspect an internal promotion at safety and emphasized a shift toward more three corner looks than three safety groupings.
Detroit Lions defensive back Jalen Mills is on the practice squad and, as Risdon put it, will in fact get called up. Safety Bishop Fitzgerald is an undrafted rookie on his third team in a month, and expecting him to master a communication-heavy system in four days is not realistic. Expect Detroit to mix personnel creatively to keep communication clean and limit busts.
Is linebacker help arriving too?
Yes. Detroit Lions linebacker Jimmy Rolder is going to play, certainly on special teams and possibly on defense. He was the Lions best coverage linebacker all summer. Risdon added that former Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone, now in Tampa, is drawing heavy criticism there, reinforcing Detroit’s decision to move on as Rolder grows into the role.
What did Green Bay’s loss and the ticket update tell us about Sunday vs the Jets?
Green Bay’s collapse is a reminder to take nothing for granted. Atlanta scored 35 points after previously failing to score more than one touchdown in a half all year and having scored only three against Carolina. As Risdon noted, things can turn fast in the NFL.
The Detroit Lions host the New York Jets at Ford Field on Sunday. Standing room tickets are available for about $130, and those fans need to be loud. With health trending up and the offensive line reinforced, Detroit has a clear runway to handle business at home.
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