The Lions loved a blowout victory on Sunday, however the group’s protection did endure a notable harm alongside the way in which. Linebacker Alex Anzalone is coping with a damaged forearm.
On account 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 prime seed, though that restoration timeline may nonetheless enable him to return to motion in time for the playoffs. Within the meantime, Detroit will probably be notably shorthanded on the second degree.
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 12 months, he has amassed 56 stops (together with seven tackles for loss) to go together with 4 go deflections. Changing that manufacturing over the following a number of weeks will probably 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 may show to be troublesome.
The Lions — who improved to 9-1 on the 12 months with their 46-point win over the Jaguars — nonetheless have 2023 first-rounder Jack Campbell in place as a first-team possibility. Jalen Reeves-Maybin was lately moved to IR, which leaves Malcolm Rodriguez as a candidate for elevated utilization shifting 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 successful streak has not resulted in a lot respiration 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 loads nonetheless at stake down the stretch, Detroit will want no less than a brief contingency plan on the linebacker spot.
