KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Detroit Lions have downgraded three of their six questionable players to out for Sunday Night Football in Kansas City.
Detroit will be without defensive back Avonte Maddox (hamstring), and offensive tackles Taylor Decker (shoulder) and Giovanni Manu (knee).
None of these updates is entirely surprising. But it highlights the depth challenges the Lions will have to fight through on the offensive line and in the secondary against the Chiefs.
Decker missed last week’s game with the Lions opting to focus on rest and the long haul. The starting left tackle underwent offseason shoulder surgery. He was back to end camp and in the starting lineup as expected, though. But the injury crept back up, and he practiced only once after the opener, continuing to play the next three games.
“He’s better,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said on Friday. “He’s getting better.”
Manu was in the starting lineup for the first time in his career in the 37-24 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The 2024 fourth-round pick was in the mix to start again until a knee injury popped up on the injury report late in the week. Manu was limited on Thursday and then missed Friday’s practice.
The Lions signed Dan Skipper from their practice squad earlier this week. Skipper is the most likely option to start at left tackle, with Devin Cochran as a potential elevation from the practice squad.
Skipper has started 11 games over the last three years for the Lions. He’s been called on in these spots before, and it’s the reason why he’s found a new life with this franchise.
Dan Campbell said they thought about flipping Penei Sewell from right to left tackle. But the Lions coach finished that thought by saying, “That’s probably not the first thought, being honest with you.”
Maddox’s absence is a more crushing blow than it’s going to credit for. He was in line to boost the depth at safety and at slot cornerback, with Amik Robertson forced into the CB1 role. Robertson and veteran Rock Ya-Sin are likely the starting outside cornerbacks. It’s tougher to decipher what they’re going to do when they need a nickelback, though.
On the bright side, safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph were not part of Saturday afternoon’s designation updates. Campbell said he feels optimistic about Branch’s chances of playing. And Joseph hasn’t missed a game despite dealing with knee issues dating back to training camp.
“But I don’t feel like this is some long-term thing by any means,” Campbell said of Branch on Friday.
“I feel like we’re going to get him to the game, I really do, but we’ll see. I can’t sit here and guarantee it either.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.