The Lions' 11-1 record this season isn't exactly a product of good health.
Heading into Week 14, Detroit has managed to maintain its status as one of the best teams in the league and as a legitimate Super Bowl contender despite a compiling list of defensive injuries.
While the most notable player to go down for the Lions was star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, the team's injury report has only grown with key pieces throughout the season.
Here's a look at every Lions defensive player currently dealing with an injury, including some who will not return to the field in 2024.
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Lions' defensive injuries in 2024
Here's the current list of injured Lions defensive players:
| Player | Position | Injury (Current status) |
| Nate Lynn | DE | Shoulder (IR) |
| John Cominsky | DE | Knee (IR) |
| David Bada | DT | Achilles (IR) |
| Marcus Davenport | DE | Triceps (IR) |
| Kyle Peko | DT | Pectoral (IR) |
| Aidan Hutchinson | DE | Tiba/fibula (IR) |
| Jalen Reeves-Maybin | LB | Neck (IR) |
| Derrick Barnes | LB | Knee (IR) |
| Alex Anzalone | LB | Forearm (IR) |
| Ifeatu Melifonwu | S | Undisclosed (IR) |
| Ennis Rakestraw Jr. | CB | Hamstring (IR) |
| Levi Onwuzurike | DE | Hamstring (Questionable) |
| Josh Paschal | DE | Knee (Questionable) |
| Malcolm Rodriguez | LB | Knee (IR) |
| Mekhi Wingo | DT | Knee (IR) |
| Carlton Davis III | CB | Knee, thumb (out) |
That's 16 Lions defensive players currently dealing with injuries in some fashion, with 13 currently on injured reserve. However, it remains to be seen if any of those 16 players will be able to return for Detroit's Week 14 matchup against the Packers.
It's certainly not unheard of for NFL teams to deal with injuries throughout a long, physical season, but the losses for Detroit's defense have become a significant storyline as they pile up. Rookie DE Nate Lynn, sixth-year DE John Cominsky, and second-year DT David Bada were all placed on IR before the 2024 season began.
Since Week 1 though, it's only gotten worse for Detroit, especially for defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn's unit. DE Marcus Davenport, who previously spent five seasons in New Orleans and one in Minnesota before joining the Lions, went down with a triceps injury in September, while DT Kyle Peko played in five games before his pec injury.
Hutchinson was the massive loss for Detroit, as he had racked up 7.5 sacks in just five games before sustaining a gruesome leg injury against the Cowboys. The No. 2 overall pick in 2022, Hutchinson was blossoming into one of the league's elite pass rushers, but will now likely be sidelined through the rest of the 2024 season. He's been continuing his rehab lately:
Aidan Hutchinson has started his rehab 💙#OnePride pic.twitter.com/QMY7zN75Dm
— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔦𝔱 𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 📰 (@the_det_times) November 16, 2024
Over a stretch of about a week in November, the Lions also had to place three linebackers on IR: Jalen Reeves-Martin (seven tackles), Alex Anzalone (56 tackles), and Derrick Barnes (10 tackles). Depth at the linebacker position has become a significant issue for Detroit as the regular season nears its end.
Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, who had two interceptions in 2023, and second-round rookie cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. were placed on IR in November, as well. In the Lions' 23-20 win over the Bears on Thanksgiving, DE Levi Onwuzurike and DE Josh Paschal left the game with injuries.
News of yet another significant loss, and at a significantly depleted linebacker position, came for the Lions recently, as well. Malcolm Rodriguez, who had 43 tackles and two sacks this season, tore his ACL and is out for the season, per Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz. DT Mekhi Wingo joined him on IR soon after.
Rounding out the current injuries, CB Carlton Davis III (51 tackles and two interceptions this season) missed last week's game against the Bears with knee and thumb injuries, per Detroit Lions on SI. Detroit head coach Dan Campbell recently commented on the extent of his team's defensive injuries.
"We look at everything every year. This time last year, we were one of the healthiest teams, and we've done the same thing. So, yeah, we look at everything," Campbell said, per Detroit Lions on SI. "We'll be able to deep-dive this in the offseason, but really it is, it's the same thing we did last year. Some of these have just kind of been one of those, like chalk it up to, 'That's a freak deal. That's kind of an odd thing that happened and how it happened.' There's no rhyme or reason and this happens, I mean it just does. As long as I've been in this league, as a player and as a coach, some years are great, and some years it's just like this. And you overcome it."
