Here is the final injury report, with game designations, for the Detroit Lions in their Thanksgiving Day game against the Buffalo Bills.
On a short week before playing the Buffalo Bills Thanksgiving Day, the Detroit Lions conducted only walk-through practices on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with participation levels estimated.
Here is the final Week 12 injury report for the Lions, with designations for Thursday’s game.
CB Jeff Okudah (concussion)-Out
OG Jonah Jackson (concussion)-Out
DE Charles Harris (groin)-Out
OG/C Evan Brown (ankle)-Out
DE Josh Paschal (knee)-Out
WR Josh Reynolds (back)-Questionable
WR DJ Chark (ankle)-No designation
RB D’Andre Swift (ankle/shoulder)-No designation
C Frank Ragnow (foot)-No designation
LB Malcolm Rodriguez (elbow)-No designation
Okudah being sidelined for Thursday’s game is no surprise. He simply didn’t have enough time to clear concussion protocol on a short week after suffering a head injury last Sunday.
Jackson popped up on Monday’s estimated practive report with an illness, then he was listed with a concussion on Tuesday. The downgrade to a concussion guaranteed the Lions’ starting left guard would be out for Thursday
Brown has stepped in capably at right guard in recent weeks. Dan Skipper replaced him after he was injured last week, and is line to start against the Bills. As for replacing Jackson, Skipper could do that while Logan Stenberg or Kayode Awosika plays the right side.
Harris will miss his second straight game, and Thursdaty will be his fifth missed game in the last seven. Paschal is also out again, on a short week. John Cominsky, Austin Bryant and Julian Okwara will fill out Detroit’s edge rusher depth beyond Aidan Hutchinson.
Reynolds seemed close to returning to action last week, before missing Friday’s practice and being ruled out on Saturday. Limited estimated practice participation on Tuesday and Wednesday is probably a good sign, but we’ll see when inactives come out Thursday morning.
Chark played 11 snaps in his return to action last week. He may see a little more this week.
Swift is without a game status for the third straight week, but it seems like a full ramp up in his snaps and touches may never come this season.
The Lions also announced they’ve elevated linebacker James Houston and center Ross Pierschbacher from the practice squad to the active roster for Thursday’s game. Houston, a rookie sixth-round pick out of Jackson State, is in line for his NFL debut.
On the Bills side, they will be down two defensive starters in linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (groin/heel) and defensive end Greg Rousseau (ankle) on Thursday. Starting center Mitch Morse (elbow/ankle) is listed as questionable, and defensive A.J. Epenesa (ankle) is listed as doubtful.