The Detroit Lions will be without their biggest free agent acquisition for Sunday’s season opener against the Chicago Bears, and likely without their best wide receiver, too.
The Lions ruled right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai out for Sunday because of a foot injury, and listed wide receiver Kenny Golladay as doubtful on their official injury report.
Lions coach Matt Patricia said both players are dealing with day-to-day-type injuries, though the team is wary of pushing them now and having them linger into the fall.
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“The one thing that we’re trying to do, and really why you’ll see (hamstring injuries) on the injury report a lot, is we’re trying to prevent them from being long-term type of soft-tissue injuries,” Patricia said. “So even if we get guys that are tight, that may be have something on the milder side, that may be a seven-, 10-, 14-day type stuff, we’re trying to prevent the four-week type of injury there.”
Tyrell Crosby, who made five starts as the Lions’ swing tackle last season, is expected to start in Vaitai’s place Sunday.
Rookie Quintez Cephus could see an expanded role in Golladay’s absence.
Golladay, who led the NFL in touchdown catches last season, suffered his injury in practice Wednesday.
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The Lions also ruled coverage specialist C.J. Moore and tight end Hunter Bryant out with hamstring injuries, and listed Danny Amendola (hamstring), Da’Shawn Hand (groin), Jeff Okudah (hamstring), Darryl Roberts (groin) and Julian Okwara (knee) as questionable.
Rookie running back D’Andre Swift (hip) was removed from the injury report after practicing in full Friday.
The Bears likely will be without their top offseason addition for Sunday’s game, too, as defensive end Robert Quinn is doubtful to play because of an ankle injury that kept him out of practice all week.
Outside linebacker Khalil Mack is questionable after he was limited Friday by a knee injury.
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