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Detroit Lions lose 3 more defensive stalwarts to injury: 'It doesn't matter'
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- Detroit Lions lose 3 more defensive stalwarts to injury: 'It doesn't matter'
The injuries keep mounting on the Detroit Lions defense, and the Lions keep shrugging them off and winning games.
The Lions lost defensive linemen Josh Paschal (knee) and Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring) and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (knee) to injuries in Thursday's 23-20 win over the Chicago Bears , their first Thanksgiving victory since 2016.
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez walks off the field due to an injury during the second half against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. He tore the ACL in his right knee.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said Rodriguez's injury appears to be the most serious.
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"I don't know how significant it'll be just yet, but he's the one I fear a little bit," Campbell said.
Rodriguez has played well as an injury replacement for Derrick Barnes and Alex Anzalone . Barnes tore his MCL and PCL in September and is expected to miss the rest of the year, and Anzalone broke his forearm two weeks ago and will miss the rest of the regular season.
The Lions entered the week second in the NFL in scoring defense despite missing four starters from their front seven and several key backups. Along with Barnes and Anzalone, starting defensive ends Marcus Davenport (torn triceps) and Aidan Hutchinson (broken leg) have suffered potentially season-ending injuries, backup nose tackle Kyle Peko is out for the year with a torn pectoral muscle and John Cominsky hasn't played this season because of a training camp knee injury.
Asked if he felt snakebit by the injuries in his front seven, Campbell said, "Let me ask you this: Does it really matter?"
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"Like who cares," Campbell said. "And that's what I go back to, man ... it doesn't matter. Like either it is or it isn't, and we get a guy back or we don't get a guy back. Worrying about it and moaning about it and bitching about it, it's like calls.
"It's like the call. It's like (pass interference penalty on Kindle) Vildor, I could sit there and throw a fit about it, what does it matter? It's called, it's done. I know this, whoever we have available we're going to get them ready to play and we expect them to hold the line, period."
Despite their injuries, the Lions got several big plays from their front seven in the final minutes Thursday.
Al-Quadin Muhammad and Za'Darius Smith had sacks and Alim McNeill drew an illegal-use-of-the-hands penalty on the game's final drive, which ended with clock mismanagement by the Bears.
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"Guys have been battling injuries all year and we just want to play for one another," defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo said. "I had a little knee injury or whatever, but I love the guys I'm playing next to so it makes you want to push through."
Wingo and Smith both left the game briefly with injuries in the second half but returned. Wingo said Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams yelled at him several times to stop limping on the field or he was coming out of the game.
"I told him I'm fine, I'm going to push through it, but definitely was in some pain," Wingo said.
Campbell said both Paschal and Onwuzurike could miss time with their injuries.
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"We got defensive injuries, if that makes us do something different offensively and special teams, we'll do that," Campbell said. "If it's offensively, we'll play a little different on defense and special teams and we'll find a way to balance the levies."
Dave Birkett will sign copies of his new book, " Detroit Lions : An Illustrated Timeline" from noon-2 p.m. Saturday at the Troy Sports Card Show at the Balkan American Community Center. Order your copy here. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions lose Malcolm Rodriguez, two other players to injuries
