One of the reasons the Detroit Lions have lost two of their last three games is a litany of crucial injuries. While some of the players, including Pro Bowl left guard Jonah Jackson and top linebacker Alex Anzalone, have returned to action, there are still a few who remain sidelined.
Head coach Dan Campbell spent a fair portion of his press conference on Monday updating the status of many of the injured Detroit players. Campbell addressed several Lions and their potential returns. It is a list that includes currently active players as well as some who are attempting to return from injured reserve.
Frank Ragnow
Ragnow missed Week 14 with knee, back and toe injuries. It doesn’t sound great for a potential return against Denver on Saturday, though that remains to be seen.
“Yet to be determined. He is improving, he’s improving. But there again, I won’t know for a little bit here,” Campbell said of Ragnow.
James Houston
Last season’s late-year pass rush sensation has been out with a broken ankle since Week 2. Houston recently indicated he hoped to return soon, but Campbell squashed that notion,
“No, no. I think it’ll be a while before that. Look, I do think there’s a chance, but I think it’s – we’re looking late December, January possibly.”
C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Gardner-Johnson has been out since Week 2 with a torn pectoral muscle. The vet has talked up a potential return and shown off his progress in several social media posts.
“Yeah, I think there’s a chance, Campbell said of Gardner-Johnson returning this year. “I think there’s – Lazarus has a chance. I think he does. He’s improved – both of those guys have, but C.J., man, he’s kicked it into overdrive. And he is, he’s healed quick and is healing quick. And most of it’s going to be about is he – is his body ready for that? Will he be able to do it without re-injuring and is it stable, strong enough?
And I know this, he’s taken off, but we’ll see. Probably the same timeline (as Houston) if there is a chance, it’d be late December, January probably.”
Bruce Irvin
Irvin played 11 snaps in his first game for Detroit as a practice squad elevation in Week 13. The 36-year-old pass rush specialist tweaked his ankle during the win over the Saints and didn’t practice in the lead-up to Week 14.
Campbell confirmed that Irvin was not elevated from the practice squad due to the ankle injury, then added,
“He’s improving too.”