Lions, Packers Week 7 Injury Report: Bye Week Helps Detroit Get Healthy

The Detroit Lions (3-2) will host the Green Bay Packers (4-2) in Week 7, and both teams are taking slightly different approaches to practices to start the week.

Following their Week 6 bye, the Lions adjusted their schedule by practicing Tuesday and giving players Wednesday off. This means participation levels for this initial practice are only estimates based on what the coaching staff projects each player could have produced in a full practice. Meanwhile, the Packers played Sunday night in Week 6 and maintained their regular practice schedule, but also held their own walkthrough.

Let’s take a look at Wednesday’s injury report and get you up to date with what we know.

Note: Any changes from the most recent injury report will be bolded.

Injured list updates

• C Cade Mays (Wrist, PUP) — Will return to the active roster this week
• S Brian Branch (Achilles, PUP) — Will return to the active roster this week

On Monday, coach Dan Campbell told the media that the plan was to activate both Mays and Branch to the 53-man roster this week, but it was unclear how much either could play against the Packers. Branch is expected to “handle quite a bit,” but he may not be able to play the entire game, while Mays is expected to start based on Campbell’s comments on Wednesday: “We really worked the heck out of Cade yesterday. He got some quality reps, and we would like to give him a go here.” 

• RB Isiah Pacheco (MCL/Back, IR) — expected to be out until December
• WR Tom Kennedy (MCL, IR) — season-ending injury
• OL Giovanni Manu (Undisclosed, NFI) — eligible to begin practicing at any time
• OL Ben Bartch (foot, IR) — eligible to begin practicing in Week 10
• LB Devin White (forearm, IR) — eligible to begin practicing in Week 10
• S Kerby Joseph (Knee, PUP) — expected to return to play this season
• S Thomas Harper (Ankle, IR) — eligible to begin practicing at any time

Branch’s safety running mate, Kerby Joseph, also got some positive news this week, as Campbell noted on Tuesday that he still expects the All-Pro safety to return to play this season. While there is still no timetable for his return, this was the first positive update we have gotten from coaches surrounding Joseph’s status and was quickly followed up by even more promising videos posted on Joseph’s social media accounts.

Additional quick updates:

• A trio of players was added to injured reserve during the Lions’ bye week: Kennedy will miss the season, while Bartch and White will miss at least four weeks and may need even longer to recover.
• Manu was seen at practice last week working with trainers, a possible first step towards opening his recovery window.
• Harper is now eligible to begin his practice window once healthy.

Estimated no practice

• None

As Jeremy Reisman previously reported, all players on the active roster attended Tuesday practice.

Estimated limited practice

• CB Rock Ya-Sin (Hamstring) — Upgraded from no practice

Ya-Sin was injured on special teams in Week 4, missed the Lions game in Week 5, but was able to get healthy enough to practice over the bye and was back on the practice field on Tuesday. While he’s no longer in the starting lineup on defense, he’s been a steady contributor on multiple phases of special teams and would boost multiple spots if he could return to game action.

Estimated full practice

• C Cade Mays (Wrist) — Upgraded from limited practice
• S Brian Branch (Achilles) — Upgraded from limited practice

As mentioned above, Mays and Branch are on track to return and start this week.

No longer on the injury report

• DL Tyleik Williams (foot)
• EDGE DJ Wonnum (back)

Williams was limited in practice in Week 5 but was able to play a full complement of snaps in the game and looked like the injury didn’t limit him.

Wonnum also managed to play in Week 5 (50% of defensive snaps), but it’s unclear if his snaps were scaled back a tick due to injury or schematic approach. It didn’t look like his injury limited him too much, considering he registered another two sacks in the game.

Packers’ initial injury report

Did not participate

• Bo Melton (back)

Limited

• QB Jordan Love (back)
• WR Matthew Golden (shoulder)
• WR Christian Watson (ankle)
• WR Savion Williams (ankle)
• LG Aaron Banks (knee/toe)
• DT Anthony Campbell (ankle)
• DT Jordan Riley (Achilles) — Return from IR candidate
• CB Brandon Cisse (shoulder/neck)
• CB Benjamin St. Juste (hamstring)