The final Detroit Lions injury report for wild card weekend is one featuring two surprises at the tight end position. One of them is positive, while the other is an unfortunate development.
The good news: rookie Sam LaPorta is listed as questionable. The rookie tight end is making excellent progress from a knee injury that saw LaPorta leave the field on a cart in the Week 18 win over the Vikings. He participated fully in Friday’s practice.
On the bad news side, James Mitchell has been ruled out with a hand injury. Mitchell went from full participant on Wednesday to limited on Thursday and then no practice on Friday.
Two other players were ruled out. Cornerback Jerry Jacobs (thigh/knee) and wide receiver Kalif Raymond (knee) will not play. Jacobs is expected to head to the injured reserve list on Saturday, when coach Dan Campbell indicated the team will make transactions.
One of those transactions is expected to be the activation of EDGE James Houston from the injured reserve. Houston is currently listed as out, but the Lions will change that if/when they activate him. It’s the same procedure as C.J. Gardner-Johnson last week.
The only other player with an injury designation is defensive lineman John Cominsky. No. 79 is questionable with an undisclosed illness. Cominsky was inactive for the Vikings game with the illness.