Allen Park — The Detroit Lions will be decidedly short-handed when they travel to Denver to play the Broncos on Sunday.
After navigating a flu outbreak throughout the week, the team was abruptly forced to place starting safety Tracy Walker and running back Jamaal Williams on the COVID-19 reserve list Friday afternoon. They were the team’s third and fourth cases of COVID this week, following center Evan Brown on Monday and cornerback Bobby Price on Thursday.
On the plus side, as of Friday, no player had been definitely ruled out due to the flu, which affected several players throughout the week and significantly altered the team’s practice routine. That said, 10, including four who missed practice on Friday, are considered questionable due to the the illness.
That’s on top of three players who were ruled out due to injury — running back D’Andre Swift (shoulder), linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (shoulder) and edge defender Julian Okwara (ankle).
Additionally, tight end T.J. Hockenson, the team’s leading receiver, is doubtful with a hand injury that sidelined him Thursday and Friday’s practices. On Thursday, Hockenson said he expected to play in the game, but the team’s medical staff had a different evaluation of his injury.
The team listed a total of a dozen players as questionable, mostly due to the flu outbreak. That group consists of defensive linemen Michael Brockers, Alim McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike, John Penisini and Nick Williams, offensive linemen Jonah Jackson, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Penei Sewell and Matt Nelson, outside linebackers Charles Harris and Austin Bryant and kicker Riley Patterson.
From that group, only Bryant (shoulder) and Nelson (ankle) didn’t have illness as part of their injury designation.
With so many uncertainties, the biggest concerns the Lions face heading into the matchup with the Broncos are in the trenches, with nearly every starting defensive lineman and offensive lineman’s status in question. that’s also the case at tight end and running back.
The team could see several promotions from the practice squad this weekend to help temporarily fill the voids, including running back and preseason standout Craig Reynolds, offensive lineman Parker Ehinger, tight end Shane Zylstra and defensive tackle Bruce Hector.
With both Swift and Williams out, Reynolds would join a backfield headed by rookie Jermar Jefferson and converted defensive back Godwin Igwebuike, who have played a combined 75 offensive snaps this season.
Fans may remember Reynolds from the preseason, when he was inserted into the lineup the day after he was signed and rushed for 62 yards on eight carries, including an impressive touchdown run. Appearing in final three exhibition games, he led the team in both rushing yards (87) and yards per carry (5.8), while scoring twice.
Because of that production, Reynolds earned a spot on the practice squad, where he’s spent the past three months.
“He’s a student of the game, running backs coach Duce Staley said on Friday. “He asks all the right questions in the room and on the field. It’s a pleasure to coach him. Then, as a coach, and you guys of course, you become a fan. You’re like, all right, maybe this is the time where he has a chance or opportunity to come up and show his skill set. I’m excited to have the young man.”
Jefferson and Igwebuike have also been effective in their limited opportunities. Igwebuike is averaging 11.6 yards per carry on eight attempts, buoyed by a 42-yard touchdown run. He also five receptions for 49 yards, including a critical 13-yard catch during the team’s game-winning drive last week against Minnesota.
Similarly, Jefferson is averaging 6.5 yards per pop, in large part thanks to a long touchdown run.
Beyond Williams’ COVID designation prompting changes in the backfield rotation, Detroit will also be turning to an undrafted rookie center on Sunday.
With Frank Ragnow out for the year after toe surgery and Brown, his backup, landing on the COVID-19 reserve list earlier this week, the Lions are expected to start Ryan McCollum against Denver.
“They’re a great team, great front, good defensive line,” McCollum said. “I’m excited. I get to showcase my skills, show everybody what I got.”
The Lions signed McCollum off the Houston Texans practice squad after Ragnow went on injured reserve. The rookie out of Texas A&M has been active the past eight weeks for the Lions, but has seen just seven offensive snaps during his debut season.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers