Lions vs Giants Week 12: Final injury report and medical analysis

The Lions are looking to rebound after suffering their fourth loss last Sunday. After their previous 3 losses this season, the Lions got a victory. They will try to do it again versus the New York Giants who are in the midst of a rough 2-9 season that includes a fired head coach (Brian Daboll).

The Giants will be without exciting rookie QB Jaxson Dart, who will miss his second straight game due to a concussion. Eleven-year veteran Jameis Winston gets another start.

Regardless of the opponent QB and the point spread, it won't be easy. The last time the Lions were heavy favorites at home, they lost to the Vikings.

The main challenge for the Lions may be trying to contain the Giants defensive line, which includes superstar pass rusher Brian Burns and the 2025 #3 overall pick, Abdul Carter. However, one of their impact pass rushers in Kayvon Thibodeaux will be out, along with starting CB Paulson Adebo. Another key CB, Deonte Banks, is questionable.

As seen yesterday on Thursday Night Football, when the Texans sacked Josh Allen 8 times, an impactful defensive line can flip the expected outcome of a game. The Lions offensive line will be looking to improve upon last week's performance vs the Eagles. How they fare on Sunday and the rest of the season may determine how far this team goes.

Maybe the Lions offensive line can channel their inner Hodor of Game of Thrones as he valiantly blocked hordes of enemies from breaking through...

Hold the door!

Hold the door!

Sam LaPorta back injury update

Before I get to the final injury report, there was an update on Sam LaPorta today… and it wasn't good, for this season at least.

Dan Campbell stated "He did have a procedure… we would be fortunate to get him back at some point, that's very very slim. The good news is the procedure went really well long-term."

Lions vs Giants final injury report

Lions starters out:

• Out: Sam LaPorta, TE

• Out: Christian Mahogany, LG

• Out: Kerby Joseph, S

• Out: Terrion Arnold, CB

• Out: Marcus Davenport, EDGE

• Possibly out: DJ Reed, CB

(NP - no practice, LP - limited practice, FP - full practice)

DETROIT LIONS

OUT - Terrion Arnold, CB (concussion) starter

This will be his second missed game, which is a bit longer absence than expected. Possibly, his history of concussion in 2023 while in college is a factor. Thanksgiving is still a possibility as he does have enough time to pass through the 5-step protocol even with a short week.

OUT - Kerby Joseph, S (left knee) starter

Despite some promising rehab videos, Joseph was NP all week. This puts the Thanksgiving game in doubt. His target may be December 4 vs the Cowboys. His last game played was October 12. The diagnosis is unknown, but the timeline and video could fit a PCL sprain.

OUT - Marcus Davenport, EDGE (right shoulder) starter

Davenport has not played since September 14 with a reported pec strain. The Friday FP is a great sign and suggests he may return on Thanksgiving.

OUT - Miles Frazier, OG (knee)

Frazier started his 21-day practice window on November 5. No surprise he is out, as the Lions will use his entire window before moving him to the active roster. Look for him to be "activated" on November 25 after the Giants game.

OUT - Josh Paschal, EDGE (back)

Paschal started his 21-day practice window on November 5. His window will close and he should move to the active roster after the Giants game - even if he isn't ready to play on Thanksgiving. The lack of FP this week suggests he may need more time.

QUESTIONABLE - Taylor Decker, OT (right shoulder) starter

The "rest" designation means he'll play his 5th straight game on Sunday.

QUESTIONABLE  - Khalil Dorsey, CB (wrist)

Dorsey just started his 21-day window on November 20. He hasn't played since September 28. His target return game may be Thanksgiving or the week after.

QUESTIONABLE - Penei Sewell, OT (left ankle) starter

Sewell injured his left ankle 2 weeks ago and aggravated it last game while still playing 100% of snaps. The 2x LP to finish out the week are a good sign he'll be ready.

QUESTIONABLE - DJ Reed, CB (hamstring) starter

Reed has not played since September 28. On Friday, Dan Campbell sounded confident that he'll be ready on Sunday: "I feel pretty good about DJ Reed going right now."

The main concern here is he would be playing 2 games in 5 days after missing 2 months with a hamstring. If he plays on Sunday, the Lions must feel very good about his health. The Lions typically don't ease players back into the lineup, so expect Reed to get a full workload if he plays.

QUESTIONABLE - Graham Glasgow, C (left knee) starter

The 3x LP signals that Glasgow should be in on Sunday. The video did not suggest a serious knee injury.

QUESTIONABLE - Tate Ratledge, OG (left knee) starter

Like Glasgow, Ratledge got 3x LP which is a good sign he should be in.

QUESTIONABLE - Isaac TeSlaa, WR (oblique)

TeSlaa was a late addition to the report last week with the oblique. It didn't stop him from playing 20 snaps. With 3x LP, he should be in.

QUESTIONABLE - Sione Vaki, RB (ankle)

Vaki was on the report last week with an ankle and ended up playing 19 special teams snaps. He should be in again.

IN - Brian Branch, S (toe) starter

Branch went down last game with an apparent knee contusion so it's good that the knee was not on the report this week. A toe can imply a problematic turf toe, but whatever the injury is, it must not be too serious.

IN - Brock Wright, TE (ankle)

Wright was on the report last week with an ankle and ended up playing 83% of snaps.

IN - Jacob Saylors, RB (back)

Saylors was on the report last week with a back injury but played.

IN - Malcolm Rodriguez, LB (ACL)

Rodriguez will return almost exactly one year after his ACL tear on November 28, 2024. His return may have been delayed due to an offseason knee scope

PUP/NFI - no players remaining

IR (injured reserve) - eligible to return this season

(Rules recap: There is no limit to the number of players that can be placed on IR. Must stay on IR for minimum 4 games. Only 8 are allowed to return during regular season plus bonus 2 for the playoffs. Last season, Lions used 7 returns during regular season and 1 during playoffs.)

Eligible return dates:

• Week 7: Shane Zylstra

• Week 8 (bye)

• Week 9 vs Vikings:

• Week 10 vs Commanders (Nov 9):

• Week 11 vs Eagles (Nov 16): Giovanni Manu

• current Week 12 vs Giants (Nov 23):

• Week 13 vs Packers (Nov 27): Zach Cunningham

• Week 14 vs Cowboys (Dec 4): Christian Mahogany

• Week 15 vs Rams (Dec 14): Sam LaPorta

• Week 16 vs Steelers (Dec 21):

IR returns: 4 - Thomas, Reed, Davenport, Dorsey

IR players:

• Sam LaPorta, TE (back, Nov 9) -  Unspecified back surgery. Almost certainly out for the season.

• Pat O'Connor, DT (knee, Nov 2) - Placed on IR Nov 14, then released on Nov 15.

• Christian Mahogany, OG (suspected left fibula fracture, Nov 2) - This fracture is not necessarily season-ending. He has a chance to return in December.

• Zach Cunningham, LB (hamstring, Oct 20) - In his first game back from a hamstring first suffered at the end of September, he presumably injured it again.

• Giovanni Manu, OT (knee, Oct 9) - Presumably hurt himself in practice. On Nov 5, Dan Campbell stated: "Gio's still a few weeks out. I don't see us starting him within the next week or two."

• returned Khalil Dorsey, CB (wrist, Oct 3) - His 21-day window opened on Nov 20. His target game might be Dec 4 vs the Cowboys.

• returned DJ Reed, CB (left hamstring, Sep 28)

• returned Daniel Thomas, S (forearm fracture, Sep 22) - Returned to play on November 9.

• returned Marcus Davenport, EDGE (right pec strain, Sep 14) - Since his practice window wasn't opened at the first opportunity, expect him to use most of the 21-day window before playing. Nov 27 or Dec 4 are the likely return games.

• Shane Zylstra, TE (suspected right high ankle sprain, Sep 14) - Video suggested a high ankle sprain which can take around 1-2 months - longer if there is a fracture. Hope he can start practicing sometime in November.

• Jamarco Jones, OT (ankle, Sep 4) - Eligible to return anytime, but was ruled out for season.

• Ezekiel Turner, LB (Achilles, Aug 23) - Eligible to return anytime but suspected to not be returning. Note: there is uncertainty whether Turner was actually designated eligible to return on the cutdown date.

IR - NOT eligible to return this season (key players listed)

• Ennis Rakestraw, CB (shoulder)

• Levi Onwuzurike, DT (ACL)

• Kenny Yeboah, TE (unspecified)

• Colby Sorsdal, OG (leg)

• Justin Herron, OT (arm)

• Dan Jackson, S (leg)

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions vs Giants Week 12: Final injury report and medical analysis