Every NFL team deals with injuries. There are a multitude of players on every roster with ailments each week, a result of playing the game of football.
However, few clubs can say they have been as battered and bruised as the 2024 Lions.
Dan Campbell’s crew loves to play a physical brand of football, and it’s taking its toll this season. The defense in particular has been decimated by injuries, with stars such as Aidan Hutchinson and Alex Anzalone sidelined for weeks and weeks.
The latest injuries entering the holiday season include star running back David Montgomery, who could be done for the 2024 season. The 27-year-old is tied for fourth in the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns. He’s put up 775 rushing yards this season, averaging 4.2 yards per carry.
You can’t tell by their 12-2 record and current No. 1 seed in the NFC, but the team has been about as unlucky as you can get when it comes to the health department.
Who else is on the extensive injury list for the Lions? The Sporting News has the answer.
NFL HQ: Live NFL scores | Updated NFL standings | Full NFL schedule
Lions injury report
David Montgomery, RB, MCL
The offense has been able to stay healthy for Campbell’s unit this season, but the latest injury out of Detroit is to one of the stars in the backfield. Montgomery suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 15 against the Bills, putting a devastating end to a key member of the offense.
Montgomery appeared to injure his leg during a play in the second quarter of the loss to Buffalo. He exited the game and did not return, finishing with four carries for four yards.
Campbell confirmed that Montgomery would require surgery on is knee, and that he won’t return at all in the 2024 season.
#Lions HC Dan Campbell says RB David Montgomery will require surgery that will put him out for the rest of the year. “We’re gonna miss him man,” he said.
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) December 16, 2024
With Montgomery out for the remainder of the campaign, Jahmyr Gibbs takes over as the full-time starter. The second-year runner has been excellent splitting duties with Montgomery, with 1,047 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the season. He’s been a useful option for Jared Goff in the passing game, adding 39 catches for 396 yards and three scores.
Carlton Davis III, CB, Jaw
Davis also was injured against the Bills in Week 15, suffering a broken jaw.
He was on the receiving end of a helmet-to-helmet collision during the first half. The Lions cornerback walked off the field with trainers and then went into the medical tent to be evaluated for a concussion, but the report came back that it was a jaw injury. First listed as questionable, Davis was eventually ruled out for the contest.
The 27-year-old is undergoing surgery to fix the fracture, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He is “out indefinitely.”
NFL POWER RANKINGS: Chiefs, Eagles get ‘super bumps’ as Lions, Steelers fall
Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Fibula/tibia
Hutchinson suffered a gruesome broken leg in early October during the team’s blowout win over the Cowboys. As he sacked Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, his leg struck his teammate, fracturing the tibia and fibula.
At the time of the injury, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that if the Lions reached the Super Bowl, Hutchinson had a shot to make it back by then. The rehab appears to be going well for the young defensive end, and Detroit sure could use him wreaking havoc off the edge.
Alex Anzalone, Forearm
Anzalone broke his forearm during the Lions’ blowout win over the Jaguars in November, adding another important defensive star to the injury list. The middle linebacker is the defensive captain of the team and could potentially return for Week 18 or the start of the playoffs.
MORE: Updated NFL playoff picture after Week 15
Here’s a look at the full personnel currently dealing with injuries for the Lions, per ESPN:
| Player | Position | Injury |
| David Montgomery | RB | MCL |
| Khalif Raymond | WR | Foot |
| Aidan Hutchinson | DE | Tibia/fibula |
| Alim McNeil | DT | ACL |
| John Cominsky | DT | Knee |
| Kyle Peko | DT | Pectoral |
| Mekhi Wingo | DT | Knee |
| Marcus Davenport | DE | Triceps |
| Derrick Barnes | LB | Knee |
| Alex Anzalone | LB | Forearm |
| Malcolm Rodriguez | LB | Knee |
| Jalen Reeves-Maybin | LB | Neck |
| Carlton Davis III | CB | Jaw |
| Ennis Rakestraw | CB | Hamstring |
| Ifeatu Melifonwu | S | Undisclosed |
Lions remaining schedule
| Week | Opponent |
| 16 | at Bears |
| 17 | at 49ers |
| 18 | vs. Vikings |
Detroit is in line to win the NFC North, currently ahead of the Vikings in the division. The Week 18 matchup between the two very well could decide who wins the title.
The Lions also own the No. 1 seed in the conference and would have a bye to the divisional round, if their position in the standings does not fall.
NFL DRAFT NEWS:
