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Detroit Lions mailbag: Super Bowl chances after latest injuries? Who's back for playoffs?
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- Detroit Lions mailbag: Super Bowl chances after latest injuries? Who's back for playoffs?
So many injuries, and so many questions about where the Detroit Lions go from here — it just felt like the right time for a mailbag.
What does our playoff roster look like, in the ideal world with players coming back? Switch from Moldy Bread to Filet. #OnePride — @richfrank23
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If you didn't hear Dan Campbell's epic take on moldy bread, filet and where the Lions go from here in the face of mounting injuries and after getting their butts kicked by the Buffalo Bills last week — and, yes, it was a butt-kicking no matter the final score — do yourself a favor and go listen. Campbell isn't giving up on the season and I wouldn't, either.
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) walks off the field due to an injury during the first half against Jacksonville Jaguars at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.
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The Lions had 18 players on injured reserve entering the Bills game and will place four more on IR this week. That's a ton of talent to lose, even if a handful of those guys were never going to make the playoff roster, but it's not unprecedented. The Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl in 2010 with 16 players on IR , including six starters.
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Of the current injured Lions, Alex Anzalone should be ready to go by the start of the playoffs and perhaps in Week 18, depending on what's at stake. Aidan Hutchinson said this week he plans to return for the Super Bowl. And Dan Campbell left the door open for Carlton Davis III to return at some point in the postseason.
I don't know that all three of those players will make it back, but if they do that would leave the Lions without four starters — defensive linemen Alim McNeill and Marcus Davenport , linebacker Derrick Barnes and running back David Montgomery — for the Super Bowl. That's more than manageable. On a shorter-term basis, the Lions should have players such as Kalif Raymond and Ifeatu Melifonwu back by the start of the postseason, too.
Can you give a possible timeline return on Ennis, Iffy and Alex and what is your opinion on how Vaki can help the run/screen game? — @DEF70x7
I mentioned Anzalone above, and it's worth noting that the Lions intend to open Melifonwu's 21-day practice window this week. Campbell said Monday he's not sure if Melifonwu will be ready to play Sunday against the Chicago Bears , but he's returning from a finger injury so my guess is he'll be on the field.
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki runs against Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.
Ennis Rakestraw isn't quite ready to return from his hamstring injury yet, and I doubt he'll have much of a role once he's back. He's a rookie who hasn't played at all this season, and he'll have to leapfrog veterans such as Kindle Vildor and Emmanuel Moseley on the depth chart.
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As for Sione Vaki , he's in line to get some rotational work with Montgomery out, but, like Rakestraw, I don't see him having too big of a role. Jahmyr Gibbs will get the bulk of the carries, especially once Week 18 rolls around and into the playoffs, and Craig Reynolds is the new No. 2 back. Vaki has one catch this year, on a fake punt, and he has played 20 offensive snaps (none since the Colts game). The Lions' best chance of success in the playoffs is to ride Gibbs as far as he can take them.
A lot has been made of how good our coaching staff is, what's the view around the league grade wise of our medical staff? How do players feel about the turf of Ford Field? Not trying to find blame 4 the rash of injuries but understand Lions efforts to minimize them and improve conditions for players — @beyonder313.bsky.social
I've shared this story before, and was reminded about it when someone dug up an old Tweet of mine the other day, but when the Lions hired Brett Fischer as their director of player health and performance in 2023, I had two agents reach out to me independently and tell me what a good addition Fischer was. One said Fischer was the guy he sent his players to for rehab in the offseason.
It's easy to blame doctors or trainers or medical personnel for a rash of injuries like the Lions have had, and I'm sure some teams have better medical staffs than others. Campbell said a few weeks ago the team will reassess everything this offseason (as it always does), including in that department.
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But the reality is, football is a brutal game and the Lions play a physical brand of the sport. Hutchinson and Dorsey suffered freak injuries in collisions with teammates. McNeill's injury appeared to happen when he landed awkwardly leaping on a pass rush. Barnes was hurt on a low block. Anzalone broke his forearm when he lunged to make a tackle just as Brian Branch flew in and hit Anzalone's arm with his helmet.
The Lions have had more injuries than usual this year, but they're also magnified more because of the position they're in as a Super Bowl favorite.
Which player on an expiring deal do you think is most important to bring back? Zeitler, Davis or Patrick? — @FriedrichsJk
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Man, this is a tough question and if I had to guess, I'd say the Lions try and re-sign all three. Kevin Zeitler is still one of the best guards in the NFL at 34 years old, Davis was the Lions' best cornerback before his injury and Tim Patrick has been a reliable No. 3 receiver.
If I had to pick one, I'd give Davis the slight edge over Zeitler, based on age, the position he plays and who else in the pipeline at their respective positions. Davis is the physical kind of cornerback that fits this defense, and while he has had his bumps, he's a big reason the secondary has been so improved this year.
If Zeitler retires or the Lions decide to go another direction, they could move Graham Glasgow back to right guard — he was much better at that position last season than he has been at left guard this year — or let rookie Christian Mahogany compete for a starting job. I don't think the Lions have been as collectively good up front this year as their reputation suggests, so letting Zeitler walk is a risk I wouldn't take.
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As for Patrick, he's the best No. 3 receiver the Lions have had under Campbell and Brad Holmes, but No. 3 receivers are a bit easier to find than starting cornerbacks or Pro Bowl-caliber guards.
Let's try be positive: what's your guess for the number of Lions Pro Bowl & All Pro players this year? — @LionsUKNFL
I'll focus on the All-Pro team for this question, because that's the more important of the two awards and it's one I have a vote for. I think at least nine Lions will be in the mix for first- or second-team All-Pro honors: Zeitler, Penei Sewell and Frank Ragnow on the offensive line; Gibbs at running back; Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jared Goff on offense; Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch on defense; and Jack Fox at punter.
Hutchinson would have been an All-Pro lock had he stayed healthy, and McNeill is worthy of votes, though the injury and his lack of big pass-rush numbers won't help his chances. If I had to guess, I'd say Sewell, Ragnow, St. Brown, Fox and one of the safeties make first-team All-Pro when votes are cast in early January.
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell (58), left, talks to quarterback Jared Goff (16) after 23-20 win over Chicago Bears at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024.
Who has the f'n voodoo dolls for all the defense? — @kuehnobservations.bsky.social
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Someone in Green Bay , maybe. Or Bobby Layne, still ticked from above, though I thought Peyton Manning took care of that business.
At what point do the injuries become too much like what happened in San Francisco ? — @zimkiew2.bsky.social
Let's close it with this, because this is ultimately what the season is about. The Lions seemed destined for New Orleans before taking a couple punches to the gut Sunday, and considering this was the best Lions team in just about every fan's lifetime, it will be a disappointment if they don't win the Super Bowl.
It's tough to lose as much talent as the Lions have and stay afloat. The 49ers are a perfect example. Everyone thought they'd be in the Super Bowl mix again this year and a few injuries later, they look old and busted.
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Campbell and Holmes deserve credit for what they've done this season, acquiring and developing the talent to withstand a rash of injuries. I think the Lions win the next two games against the Bears and 49ers with relative ease; neither team can put up points like the Bills. It's the Week 18 showdown with the Vikings that will dictate their playoff success.
If the Lions win that one and get a first-round bye, there's no reason they can't go to the Super Bowl. They'll be playing at home and they'll stand a better chance of avoiding some the kind of early playoff matchup that could do them in (against Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams , or on the road at Philadelphia ). If they lose that game, I'm not sure the Lions could survive three road games against top-flight offensive teams.
I'm still not backing down from my Lions to the Super Bowl pick, but the road to get there definitely seems harder than it did a week ago.
Dave Birkett is the author of the new book, " Detroit Lions : An Illustrated Timeline."
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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 mailbag: Super Bowl 2025 chances despite injuries?
