Get ready for an intense battle on Sunday Night Football as the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs face off, but injuries could play a crucial role in the outcome. The injury report is in, and it's a mixed bag for both teams, with some key players' statuses still up in the air.
Let's dive into the details and uncover the latest updates on who's in and who's out for this highly anticipated game.
Detroit Lions
Ruled OUT
RB Sione Vaki (groin) - Vaki's groin injury will keep him out for a third consecutive game. The good news? He's not on the injured reserve list, which means a potential return to practice soon.
DT Alim McNeill (ACL) - Still on the Reserve/PUP list, McNeill has 11 days left on the clock. The plan, according to Justin Rogers, is for him to return ahead of Week 7, but the Lions will take it slow with his recovery.
LB Zach Cunningham (hamstring) - Cunningham's hamstring issue will keep him sidelined for now. With a bye week approaching, his return might be delayed further.
CB Terrion Arnold (shoulder) - Arnold's shoulder injury is expected to keep him out for some time, and his absence is not a surprise.
Questionable
WR Kalif Raymond (neck) - Raymond missed practice on Wednesday but returned on Thursday. Neck injuries are often treated with caution, so his status for Sunday is still uncertain.
LT Taylor Decker (shoulder) - Decker feels improved but hasn't practiced all week. While he's played in similar situations before, this could be another week off for him.
OT Giovanni Manu (knee) - Manu's appearance on the injury report on Thursday and his missed practice on Friday make his availability for this week's game questionable.
DB Avonte Maddox (hamstring) - Maddox is considered a "game-time" decision, along with Branch and Joseph. The Lions' secondary could be in for some changes if any of these players are unable to play.
DB Brian Branch (ankle) - Branch's status is uncertain, as he had an MRI on Thursday and missed practice. Coach Campbell believes he might be available, but it's a close call.
S Kerby Joseph (knee) - Joseph's absence from practice this week makes his status more uncertain compared to previous weeks when he at least attended one practice.
Not Listed with an Injury Designation
- WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (wrist) - St. Brown missed practice on Wednesday but returned on Thursday and Friday. He's expected to start against the Chiefs, and he assures fans that his wrist is "all good."
Kansas City Chiefs
No Injured Players Listed with an Injury Designation
- QB Patrick Mahomes (groin)
- RB Kareem Hunt (calf)
- WR Xavier Worthy (shoulder/ankle)
- WR Hollywood Brown (ankle)
- WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee)
- RT Jawaan Taylor (knee)
- DT Omarr Norman-Lott (shoulder)
- DE Charles Omenihu (ankle)
- LB Nick Bolton (calf)
- LB Jeffrey Bassa (knee)
- CB Kristian Fulton (ankle)
And there you have it! The injury report is a crucial piece of the puzzle as we head into this Week 6 showdown. But here's where it gets controversial: Will the Lions' game-time decisions pay off, or will the Chiefs' healthy starters make the difference? And this is the part most people miss: injuries can swing the momentum of a game, so keep an eye on these updates!
What do you think? Will the Lions' injury woes affect their performance? Or will the Chiefs' starters dominate? Let's discuss in the comments and share your predictions!
