There was a bit of a surprise on the Detroit Lions final game status report for Week 4. Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu was not listed with an injury status for the Monday Night Football matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.
That’s because Melifonwu was placed on the injured reserve list by the Lions on Saturday. Melifonwu has missed every practice but two since suffering an ankle injury in Detroit’s second preseason game in Kansas City. He was limited participant in two practices in Week 1 but has not participated at all since.
Melifonwu played quite well down the stretch in 2023, including the postseason. However, injuries have dogged his four-year Lions career. He’s now missed 21 of a possible 55 games with various ailments since the Lions drafted him in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
There was no immediate addition to the 53-man roster. Melifonwu will now miss at least the next four games, including Week 4.