Latest, regularly updated Detroit Lions injury information

Aug 18, 2025

Let me start with an important note: Bookmark this page.

I repeat, bookmark this page.

For the remainder of the 2025 season, this page will be updated regularly, with the latest information on the Detroit Lions’ injury situation, including quotes from Lions coach Dan Campbell where relevant.

If you don’t bookmark it — which you should — it will be linked in the header on detroitfootball.net.

Active roster injuries

Linebacker Alex Anzalone

Anzalone left the team’s Christmas Day matchup with a concussion. (Dec. 25)

Safety Thomas Harper

Harper left the team’s Christmas Day matchup with a concussion. (Dec. 25)

Defensive tackle Alim McNeill

McNeill didn’t play a snap after the first quarter on Christmas Day due to an abdominal injury. (Dec. 25)

Safety Avonte Maddox

Maddox exited in the closing minutes of the team’s Week 16 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with cramping in his lower back.

After not practicing the following week, Maddox was ruled out for the team’s game against Minnesota on Christmas Day. (Updated: Dec. 24)

Long-term injuries

Tight end Sam LaPorta

LaPorta suffered a back injury during the team’s Week 11 game against Washington. He was placed on injured reserve the following week. On Nov. 21, Campbell announced the tight end underwent surgery and will likely miss the remainder of the season.

Providing an update on Dec. 31, Campbell said LaPorta wouldn’t have been able to return this year, even if the Lions had made the playoffs. Still, the team remains optimistic about the tight end’s readiness for training camp. But, given the nature of the injury, even that isn’t a guarantee.

“I think it’s anytime when you start talking about a neck or a back or some of those things …those can be concerning just because you don’t know,” Campbell said. “You don’t know exactly what’s going to come out of that, how do they recover.

“But I’d like to believe he’ll have a lot of time to heal here,” Campbell continued. “He’s rehabbing every day. Certainly, it feels better after the surgery than he did right before, so that’s a positive. Took a lot of stress off that nerve, so we’ll see.” (Updated: Dec. 31)

Safety Kerby Joseph

Joseph has been dealing with a balky knee since training camp, which was exacerbated by a bone bruise suffered during the season. He briefly exited both the Week 5 and Week 6 games after aggravating the issue.

Joseph has missed seven consecutive games and is on track to miss an eighth after a setback with the knee ahead of the team’s Week 15 game against the Rams. Campbell was asked if this could result in Joseph being placed on injured reserve.

“Could,” Campbell said on Dec. 12. “We’re at the back end of the season, so even if it’s not technically long-term, it becomes long-term because we don’t have many games left. …It bothers him, you know? That’s the best way to say it.”

Joseph was finally moved to injured reserve on Dec. 20. (Updated: Dec. 20)

Offensive tackle Gio Manu

Manu popped up on the practice report with a knee injury on Oct. 9 and didn’t take the field the following day. Initially listed as questionable for the team’s Week 6 game with Kansas City, he was downgraded to out on Oct. 11.

Later that day, Manu was transferred to IR, leading to surgery to fix an injured meniscus.

On Nov. 5, Campbell said Manu was still a few weeks from returning to practice. The offensive was spotted working off the side with a trainer during the team’s Dec. 10 practice.

Manu was listed as a limited practice participant on an estimated practice report on Dec. 17.

“I think for Gio, he needs reps,” Campbell said. “Practice reps, get out there against our defense, against (Marcus) Davenport and (Aidan Hutchinson) Hutch in real time practice. There’s not a ton of them, and it’s not like training camp, but he just needs reps, man. He cannot get enough reps. And if we’re able to use him or there’s something there this year, that’s a bonus.” (Updated: Dec. 17)

Safety Brian Branch

Branch exited Detroit’s Week 14 game against Dallas in the late stages of the fourth quarter with what the team initially called an ankle injury. The defender had to be helped off the field and carted to the locker room, where he was spotted after the game on crutches.

Campbell didn’t have an immediate update, and the team doesn’t have media access until after the weekend. However, the NFL Network is reporting that Branch is feared to have suffered an Achilles injury.

Branch underwent surgery for the injury and has an initial recovery timetable of 8-12 months. (Updated: Dec. 10)

Tight end Brock Wright

Wright landed on his head after he was upended on a tackle against the New York Giants. He finished the game but missed the following week of practice with a neck injury and was ruled out for the team’s Thanksgiving game against the Packers.

On Nov. 30, Campbell said Wright is continuing to be evaluated for a trachea injury, and the tight end could potentially be out long-term. On Dec. 4, the Lions placed Wright on injured reserve. (Updated: Dec. 4)

Cornerback Terrion Arnold

Arnold unexpectedly popped up on the injury report with a shoulder injury after playing 17 snaps in the team’s Thanksgiving loss to the Packers. Shortly after that report, the second-year cornerback was placed on injured reserve, knocking him out until at least the season finale. (Dec. 1)

Defensive lineman Josh Paschal

Paschal missed training camp and the start of the campaign with a back injury. Originally expected to return close to the start of the season, he was kept on NFI after roster cutdowns.

On Oct. 31, Campbell said the defender is still likely a few weeks away from practicing. Five days later, the team started the defender’s three-week practice clock.

After three weeks of practice, the Lions opted to place Paschal on season-ending injured reserve.

“Yeah, it just wasn’t enough time, to really be able to say that we knew he would be able to get through the year or that he was ready,” Campbell said. “That’s what it came down to. You know, I hate it for him, but it’s where it was at.” (Updated: Nov. 30)

Linebacker Zach Cunningham

After missing three weeks with a strained hamstring, Cunningham reaggravated the injury in his return to action, Week 7 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On Oct. 22, he was placed on injured reserve. That means he’ll miss at least the next four games. He’ll first be eligible to return to action when the Lions host the Packers on Thanksgiving. (Updated: Oct. 22)

Offensive tackle Jamarco Jones

Jones suffered an Achilles injury during the team’s Sept. 4 practice and was placed on injured reserve two days later. He has been ruled out for the season. (Updated: Sept. 10)

Safety Dan Jackson

Jackson suffered a leg injury during practice on Aug. 3 and was placed on injured reserve the following day.

Cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

Rakestraw suffered a chest contusion after a violent midfield collision during the team’s first training camp practice. A few days after returning to action, the second-year cornerback suffered a shoulder injury during a tackling drill. He was placed on injured reserve four days later and has since undergone surgery.

Offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal

Sorsal suffered a leg injury in the team’s preseason game against Atlanta on Aug. 8 and was placed on injured reserve Aug. 10.

Linebacker Ezekiel Turner

Turner suffered a possible Achilles injury in the third quarter of Saturday’s preseason game against the Texans after getting bent backward awkwardly during a play.

“We’re getting tests on that, but that was a significant injury, it looks like,” Campbell said after the game.

Turner was placed on injured reserve when the team cut its roster to 53 players on Aug. 26.

Defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike

After dealing with nagging knee pain this offseason, a medical evaluation revealed the lineman needed surgery to repair a damaged ACL. He’s been ruled out for the season.