The Lions loved a blowout victory on Sunday, however the staff’s protection did undergo a notable harm alongside the way in which. Linebacker Alex Anzalone is coping with a damaged forearm.
Because of the harm, head coach Dan Campbell pointed to an absence of six to eight weeks (h/t ESPN’s Eric Woodyard). Anzalone’s presence will definitely be missed by the NFC’s high seed, though that restoration timeline might nonetheless permit him to return to motion in time for the playoffs. Within the meantime, Detroit might be notably shorthanded on the second stage.
Anzalone has remained a full-time starter in 2024, his fourth Lions season. The 30-year-old topped 1,000 defensive snaps throughout every of the previous two campaigns, and he exceeded 100 tackles each occasions whereas totaling 4.5 sacks. This yr, he has amassed 56 stops (together with seven tackles for loss) to go together with 4 move deflections. Changing that manufacturing over the following a number of weeks might be difficult for Detroit.
Derrick Barnes resides on injured reserve, and it remains to be seen if he’ll be capable of return at any level in 2024. Anzalone’s continued high-level play has helped compensate for Barnes’ absence, however being with out each for the foreseeable future might show to be troublesome.
The Lions — who improved to 9-1 on the yr with their 46-point win over the Jaguars — nonetheless have 2023 first-rounder Jack Campbell in place as a first-team choice. Jalen Reeves-Maybin was just lately moved to IR, which leaves Malcolm Rodriguez as a candidate for elevated utilization transferring ahead.
Anzalone re-signed with the Lions on a three-year, $18.75M deal this offseason. That pact underscores his significance to Detroit’s protection (a unit which ranked eighth in scoring getting into Sunday’s motion) for this season and past.
The Lions’ eight-game profitable streak has not resulted in a lot respiratory area atop the NFC North, and wins by the Vikings and Packers on Sunday will maintain the stress on to stay in pole place. With a lot nonetheless at stake down the stretch, Detroit will want at the least a short lived contingency plan on the linebacker spot.
