Week 12 was a tough one for the Detroit Lions. Not only did they lose to their NFC North rivals, the Green Bay Packers, in their annual Thanksgiving Day game, they saw several key players suffer injuries in the game.
Defensive back Kerby Joseph was banged up in the game along with offensive lineman Jonah Jackson. But, the biggest loss that the team suffered was linebacker Alex Anzalone, who injured his hand/wrist against Green Bay.
On Monday, Lions’ head coach Dan Campbell talked to reporters and provided updates on all of the players. Out of the three, it sounded as if he was most concerned about the availability of Anzalone moving forward.
“Alex could be a little bit, that’s possible. Kerby (Joseph) should be good,” Campbell told reporters, via SI.com. “Jonah (Jackson), I’m assuming Jonah’s not playing until he tells me he’s playing, and then I’ll know. Other than that, we’ll see.”
The Lions have already lost two key defensive backs, safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, to significant injuries this season. Being without Anzalone for an extended period of time could really hurt a unit that has made some nice strides this season but has regressed in recent weeks.
That regression could continue and worsen without Anzalone. On the season, Anzalone has played 98 percent of the defensive snaps, including 100 percent of the snaps in seven games.
He has compiled 87 total tackles with five tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits, 3.0 sacks and five passes defended. His loss would be a significant one, as noted by Kyle Meinke of MLive.com.
“Anzalone has become one of the leaders of the defense during his three-year stint in Detroit, and has played progressively better every season,” Meinke wrote. “He racked up a career-high 125 tackles last year, which earned him a handsome three-year, $18.3 million contract over the offseason.”
Anzalone was in the midst of a career season after the Lions were able to move him back to his more natural weakside-linebacker spot. Replacing him will be a tall order as he has been productive throughout the season and is a leader on that side of the ball for the team.