Detroit Lions Wednesday Injury Report for Week 16
Following his return to practice on Wednesday, C.J. Gardner-Johnson gave the Detroit Lions’ defense a significant boost. Gardner-Johnson has been out of action since Week 2 due to an injury, but his attendance at practice suggests he may soon be back in action.
In recent weeks, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has rotated the secondary a lot, starting Ifeatu Melifonwu at safety for the past two weeks. In addition, last week marked Khalil Dorsey’s first cornerback start; Jerry Jacobs had started 12 of the previous 13.
Jacobs sustained a hamstring injury against the Broncos, which kept him out of practice on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Thomas Graham and Jace Whittaker, two defensive backs, paid visits to Detroit.
On Sunday, the Lions’ secondary will have their hands full against Minnesota, who have tight end T.J. Hockenson and two very good receivers in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Nick Mullens is Minnesota’s fourth starting quarterback this year, but the offense is extremely potent because of the abundance of weapons surrounding him.
“I just go back to this, the resources you’re gonna use to try to slow (Jefferson) down, it opens up other avenues here,” Campbell said on Wednesday. “The other guys must be able to win their one-on-ones if you’re going to do that. It’s not easy, but you have to do it. I am aware that we must not allow him to have 200 yards once more; that much is clear. Thus, we will need to have some responses.”
