{"id":441024,"date":"2025-12-11T22:11:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T22:11:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/441024\/"},"modified":"2025-12-11T22:11:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T22:11:14","slug":"lions-rams-injury-news-alex-anzalone-returns-kerby-joseph-sits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/441024\/","title":{"rendered":"Lions, Rams injury news: Alex Anzalone returns, Kerby Joseph sits"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The Detroit Lions (8-5) and Los Angeles Rams (10-3) were back on the practice field on Thursday and have updated their injury reports based on the latest participation levels.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Let\u2019s take a look at the latest injury report and get you up to date with what we know. Note: Any changes from the last injury report will be <strong>bolded<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1nfb3k4i feuejx0 ls9zuh1\">\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">LT Taylor Decker (shoulder)<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\"><strong>S Kerby Joseph (knee) \u2014 Downgraded from limited practice<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">S Brian Branch (Achilles)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Decker typically sits out at least one practice each week, as part of his injury management program. And while missing a second practice is not unusual, it\u2019s been a while since it\u2019s happened, and it\u2019s worth keeping an eye on.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Joseph returned to practice last week, but only practiced one day, while sitting out the other two practices. The All-Pro safety was already on the practice field on Wednesday this week, so a rest day on Thursday could be part of the rehabilitation plan. While this absence does not necessarily indicate a setback, it\u2019s also not encouraging for his chances of playing this weekend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Branch\u2019s continued appearance on the injury report is only because they have not placed him on injured reserve. This is merely a formality at this point, as he has already had successful surgery on his Achilles and is clearly done for the season.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1nfb3k4i feuejx0 ls9zuh1\">\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">RB Sione Vaki (thumb)<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">WR Kalif Raymond (ankle)<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">TE Shane Zylstra (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.prideofdetroit.com\/detroit-lions-news\/142266\/detroit-lions-place-shane-zylstra-on-ir-elevate-1-player-sign-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">knee, still on IR<\/a>) \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prideofdetroit.com\/detroit-lions-news\/151122\/detroit-lions-start-evaluation-clock-on-veteran-tight-end\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Days remaining in injury evaluation clock<\/strong><\/a><strong>: 10<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">LG Christian Mahogany (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.prideofdetroit.com\/detroit-lions-news\/147838\/lions-place-christian-mahogany-on-ir-sign-lb-from-practice-squad\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fibula, still on IR<\/a>) <strong>\u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prideofdetroit.com\/detroit-lions-news\/151981\/christian-mahogany-returns-to-practice-starts-injury-evaluation-clock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Days remaining in injury evaluation clock<\/a>: 19<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">LG Kayode Awosika (foot)<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">S Thomas Harper (concussion)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Vaki\u2019s thumb injury continues to limit him in practices, but he\u2019s been good to go in games. If the thumb injury is a sprain, it could linger a bit longer, but if it\u2019s a break, he may be dealing with this for the remainder of the season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Raymond returned to practice on Wednesday after missing the previous two games. Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp insisted that once available, Raymond will return to his punt returner role, but also acknowledged <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prideofdetroit.com\/detroit-lions-news\/152101\/detroit-lions-ecstatic-for-tom-kennedy-plan-to-keep-him-as-kick-returner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tom Kennedy has done enough to keep the kick return role<\/a>. Raymond would also likely return to a WR3\/4 role on offense, likely splitting time with rookie Isaac TeSlaa.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Zylstra has stacked another practice, and with the Lions releasing two tight ends in the last two days, the writing on the wall suggests Zylstra has a good chance of being removed from injured reserve and added back to the 53-man roster as early as this weekend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Mahogany is just two days into his injury evaluation window and appears to be progressing well. While he has suggested he wants to try to return this week, the more likely scenario is that he would make his return for the Lions\u2019 Week 16 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Week 17 game in Minnesota.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Awosika missed last week\u2019s game due to a mid-week foot injury, but his stacking two practices is a good sign that he may be able to return to the starting left guard position. Things are still a bit up in the air\u2014will Awosika or Mahogany be ready?\u2014but the Lions could always turn back to veteran Trystan Colon, who has started each of the last two weeks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Harper has now practiced for two days in a row and appears to be on the right track to be cleared from the League\u2019s concussion protocol in time to play on Sunday. With Branch headed to injured reserve and Joseph looking like he could miss another week, the Lions would really benefit from having Harper available.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1nfb3k4i feuejx0 ls9zuh1\">\n<li class=\"feuejx1\"><strong>LB Alex Anzalone (illness) \u2014 upgraded from no practice<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Anzalone didn\u2019t practice on Wednesday due to an illness, but he was back at practice on Thursday, suggesting he\u2019s on track to play on Sunday. Anzalone is a unique cog in the Lions\u2019 defense, and with the Rams on the docket, Detroit will surely need his coverage skills.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Detroit Lions (8-5) and Los Angeles Rams (10-3) were back on the practice field on Thursday and&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":441025,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[49994,27705,1232,62,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-441024","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nfl","8":"tag-detroit-lions-injury-report","9":"tag-detroit-lions-news","10":"tag-nfl","11":"tag-sports","12":"tag-united-states","13":"tag-unitedstates","14":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115703230412158757","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=441024"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441024\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/441025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=441024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=441024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=441024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}