The Detroit Lions offense this year was remarkably healthy during the 2024 regular season which stood in stark contrast to the defense. See my previous article for the defensive injury recap.
There will always be minor injuries but there were no major, season-ending injuries to the offense. Most starters and key reserves were available for the vast majority of the season. Currently, almost all starters are healthy entering the playoffs, save for 1a/1b RB David Montgomery and OG Kevin Zeitler who both might be ready for the first playoff game.
The health of the offense is a big reason why the team leaned on the offense throughout the year, and that will continue to be the case in the playoffs.
Here are the most significant injuries to the offense ranked in order of most impactful to the season. In parentheses are the number of full games missed.
Taylor Decker, OT (3 full games missed)
Pec strain and rotator cuff, November
Right knee MCL and right ankle, November 24
Taylor Decker R knee/ankle injury video
-Mild R ankle ext rotation can cause high ankle sprain
-Likely mild MCL sprain
-Returned to game
-Not long term, but could miss Thanksgiving pic.twitter.com/D7IZAOg6Bv— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) November 25, 2024
David Montgomery, RB (3)
Right MCL, December 15
David Montgomery R knee injury video
-Unclear moment of injury
-1st clip is suspicious play when leg gets tangled up. Stayed in.
-Next carry R leg appears to give out
-Returned after halftime with knee wrap and finished game. No sig concern but worth watching. pic.twitter.com/9wM2BOLmOD— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) December 16, 2024
Kalif Raymond, WR (5)
Left foot, November 24
Kalif Raymond L foot injury video
-Lands awkwardly on foot with hyperextended toes
-Hope just mild turf toe or mild foot sprain. Lisfranc possible.
-26 bones in foot, lots of things can go wrong pic.twitter.com/RKpnJ3dkJM— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) November 25, 2024
Sam LaPorta, TE (1)
Hamstring, August
Right low ankle sprain September 22
Sam LaPorta R low ankle sprain injury video
-Inversion mechanism
-Returned to game intermittently
-Likely won’t miss any games. Nothing long-term. pic.twitter.com/2j4UgZcZXO— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) September 26, 2024
Left AC joint sprain, November 10
Sam LaPorta L AC joint sprain
-Stayed in next 2 plays then out
-DC called it mild and day-to-day
-Can play vs Jags but good chance he is out 1-2wk for strategic reasons:
1)all other weapons healthy
2)max health for playoffs is priority at this point pic.twitter.com/7srGoo1FY7— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) November 13, 2024
Frank Ragnow, C (1)
Left pec strain, September 22
Frank Ragnow L pec strain injury video
-1st quarter, missed no plays
-Partial tear (grade 1/2). Early reports suggest non-surgical, short-term injury.
-Could be back as soon as week 6 vs Cowboys pic.twitter.com/0a9d6Cy0FC— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) September 25, 2024
Christian Mahogany, OG (10)
Graham Glasgow, OG (1)
Knee, December
Kevin Zeitler, OG (1)
Groin/hip, October
Right hamstring, January 5
Kevin Zeitler right hamstring injury video
-Heavy limp afterwards. Did not return.
-Return depends on severity. Could be multiple weeks. pic.twitter.com/cuJmhxAFqi— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) January 6, 2025
Antoine Green, WR (17)
Concussion, August 8
Antoine Green concussion video
-I believe concussion was not from initial hit but from his fall being interrupted by Vaki’s leg causing whiplash.
-Whiplash mechanism can cause concussions due to sudden acceleration/deceleration forcing brain to impact inside of skull. pic.twitter.com/x22mLfk8fm— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) August 10, 2024
Connor Galvin, OT (17)
Left MCL, August 8
Connor Galvin MCL injury video
-Watch #76 L lower leg gets trapped causing him to do the splits and land awkwardly tearing L MCL
-Reported season ending surgery indicates significant tear pic.twitter.com/odeb5zrWcY— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) August 9, 2024
Tre’Quan Smith, WR (17)
Hand, August 17
Tre’Quan Smith hand injury video
-Uncertain moment of injury but R hand sandwiched on this play
-Still helps his teammate up 👏 and plays 2 more plays
-Dan Campbell says “out for a little while”
-If simple fracture, likely 6-8wks #OnePride pic.twitter.com/6Kk10tcdut— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) August 18, 2024