After surrendering 48 points in a 48-42 defeat to the Buffalo Bills — their second loss of the season — the Detroit Lions may be facing even more bad news for their defense.
The Lions suffered a string of potentially season-ending injuries during Sunday’s loss, with head coach Dan Campbell revealing that three key players could be done for the year. The latest setbacks come at a critical time, as injuries continue to plague the Lions’ defense with just three games remaining in the regular season.
Lions May Lose Two Key Players
As reporter Tim Twentyman noted following the game, Campbell didn’t sound optimistic about two players who were injured.
“Dan Campbell said he doesn’t feel good about injuries to Alim McNeill and Carlton Davis III. Thinks they could be season-ending,” Twentyman shared on X.
McNeill, the Lions’ standout defensive tackle, went down with a knee injury and was ruled out of the game. Cornerback Carlton Davis III left early in the second half after suffering a jaw injury. Adding to the woes, cornerback Khalil Dorsey appeared to suffer a fractured leg during a collision with teammate Ezekiel Turner in the second quarter. Dorsey was carted off the field after being surrounded by concerned teammates.
Campbell remained cautious but pessimistic about the severity of the injuries, noting that further testing would be conducted Monday.
“Normally if I’m like saying I don’t feel good, that means it’s not good for the rest of the year,” Campbell told reporters, per ESPN. “So, I don’t feel good about it.”
The situation appears especially dire for Dorsey. His leg injury looked significant, and he was immediately taken to the locker room after the on-field incident.
Injury-Ridden Season for the Lions
The Lions have battled injuries throughout the year, including the loss of leading edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who suffered a severe leg fracture in a recent win against the Dallas Cowboys. Currently, 13 Lions defenders are on injured reserve. Campbell remains hopeful that Hutchinson could return if the team makes it to the Super Bowl, but the mounting injuries present a major challenge.
Loss Impacts Playoff Race
Sunday’s loss had significant playoff implications for Detroit. Entering the matchup, the Lions held a one-game lead over the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC’s top seed. With the Eagles defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers, both teams now share identical records.
The Lions’ loss came despite an impressive offensive performance, as they put up 42 points in the highest-scoring game of the NFL season. Still, Campbell took responsibility, admitting his team wasn’t able to match one of the AFC’s top contenders.
“Now we know where we stand against one of the AFC’s best teams,” Campbell said, via ESPN. “Today, that wasn’t good enough.”
The defeat also prevented the Lions from extending their lead in the NFC North. The Minnesota Vikings, winners of six straight games, now sit at 11-2 and could move into a tie with the Lions if they beat the Chicago Bears on Monday night.
