The defensive injury hits keep on coming for the Detroit Lions.
Defensive tackle Alim McNeill will miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL in his knee during the team’s Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills, according to a league source. Meanwhile, cornerback Carlton Davis suffered a broken jaw during the game and is expected to miss six weeks, according to league sources.
McNeill injured his knee in the third quarter Sunday and was ruled out. Davis was evaluated for a concussion in addition to the jaw injury.
Backup cornerback Khalil Dorsey also suffered an ankle injury and was carted off against Buffalo. After the game, Lions coach Dan Campbell said Dorsey would be out for the rest of the season.
These ailments add to the growing pile of injured players for Detroit. Star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson is currently on injured reserve, while key contributors Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Marcus Davenport and Malcolm Rodriguez are all out as well.
You could almost field a starting defense of Lions players out indefinitely/on IR.
DE Aidan Hutchinson
DT Alim McNeill
DT Kyle Peko
DE Marcus Davenport
LB Derrick Barnes
LB Alex Anzalone
LB Malcolm Rodriguez
CB Carlton Davis III
CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
S Ifeatu Melifonwu— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) December 16, 2024
McNeill leaves a void
McNeill was in the middle of a Pro Bowl caliber season. He was one of the last starters standing along the defensive line, capable of making an impact against the run or as a pass rusher. The Lions rewarded him with a four-year, $97 million contract in October as a result. He was a core member of this team. But you could tell Sunday’s injury was serious, based on McNeill’s frustrations while walking off the field with a limp. He entered the blue medical tent and was quickly ruled out with a knee injury. Campbell said he didn’t feel good about the injury. His fears have now been confirmed.
That’s another major blow to the defense. He’ll become the third starting defensive linemen placed on injured reserve, joining Hutchinson and Davenport. The Lions will need Levi Onwuzurike, DJ Reader, Pat O’Connor and others to step up in his absence. — Colton Pouncy, Lions beat writer
What will Detroit do without Davis
Davis was Detroit’s best cornerback. Brought over in a trade with the Buccaneers, his ability to play man coverage is what made him a perfect fit in defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn’s scheme. Without him, rookie Terrion Arnold becomes Detroit’s top corner.
Dorsey is also out for the season following an injury suffered Sunday, per Campbell, so we might see more of Kindle Vildor, Emmanuel Moseley or rookie Ennis Rakestraw Jr., if he can return from IR in the near future. Even so, losing Davis for the rest of the regular season hurts. The six-week timeline, according to multiple reports, could get him back in the lineup by the NFC Championship, but the Lions would need to get there first. That becomes harder without Davis and McNeill. — Pouncy
Required reading
- NFL Panic Meter: How worried should Lions, Chiefs and Steelers be? Sando’s Pick Six
- NFL playoff picture, Week 15: Eagles join Lions atop NFC; Rams take control of NFC West
- Lions got a reality check against Bills. How they respond will determine how far they can go
(Photo: Mike Mulholland / Getty Images)
