ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions served a lengthy list of game designations, with four players ruled out and 10 others listed as questionable.
Tight end Sam LaPorta (back), cornerback Terrion Arnold (concussion protocol), safety Kerby Joseph (knee) and edge defender Josh Paschal (back) will not play this weekend in Philadelphia.
LaPorta did not practice this week after coming back from beating up on the Washington Commanders with a back injury. The tight end has quietly put together a solid season, with all of his touchdowns coming in the team’s last five games.
He has 40 catches, 489 yards and three touchdowns, with 24 of those receptions coming in the last six games, after a slow start. It’s just the second time in his three-year career that LaPorta will miss a game for the Lions.
Adding to those concerns is that fellow tight end Brock Wright is among those 10 players listed as questionable. Dan Campbell touched the ceiling when expressing his “sky-high” confidence in Wright. The Lions coach went as far as to call him one of their most overlooked and dependable players. But he’ll have to work through an ankle injury if he goes.
The Lions added veteran Anthony Firkser to their practice squad earlier this week. Firkser played two games for the Lions in 2023 and saw action in all three of their playoff games that year, so he’s no stranger to the operation. Another potential name to watch is Jackson Meeks. The undrafted rookie receiver has been splitting time between his natural position and the tight ends in recent weeks.
Then, there is the secondary with Arnold missing his third game of the season and Joseph sitting out his fourth straight. D.J. Reed is listed as questionable, but Campbell made it a point to say he doesn’t see the team’s top corner rushing back this weekend.
Amik Robertson has again lifted the load, switching from nickelback to outside cornerback this season. Robertson is questionable after popping up on the injury report with a mid-week hamstring injury, though. The veteran defender expects to play, and the Lions will need him out there, no doubt.
With Arnold out, expect to see Rock Ya-Sin get another start at cornerback while veteran Arthur Maulet lifts the load alongside the linebackers and safety Brian Branch in the slot.
Edge defender Marcus Davenport (pectoral), left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder), linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (knee), running back Jacob Saylors (back), right tackle Penei Sewell (ankle), offensive lineman Miles Frazier (knee) running back Sione Vaki (ankle) and Wright, Reed and Robertson are the 10 questionable players.
Davenport, much like Reed, had his 21-day acclimation window opened this week. The Lions don’t sound interested in rushing him back to action just yet, either.
Decker and Sewell have been banged up in recent weeks, but have each continued to play. Sewell and Decker at least practiced in a limited capacity this week, with both tackles getting a rest day on Friday.
Saylors and Vaki have been limited in practice this week, too. They haven’t seen much work out of the backfield, but both play a key role on special teams and have handled kickoff returns this season.
Rodriguez feels set to make his long-awaited return this weekend in Philadelphia. The linebacker has been back at practice for three weeks, coming to the end of the line of his 21-day return window. If he’s active this weekend, expect him to see work on special teams while the Lions work him back into the linebacker rotation.
Graham Glasgow (back) enters the showdown against the Eagles without an injury designation. The center was limited on Wednesday before returning to full-participation levels to end the week. Star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson is also good to go after missing Wednesday’s session with an elbow injury.
The Eagles are listing one player as questionable, interior offensive lineman Willie Lampkin. Lane Johnson, Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson are all cleared and set to hold things down on Philadelphia’s offensive line.
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