The Detroit Lions dropped a bombshell on Friday, Oct. 16, putting three players on injured reserve, including offensive lineman Ben Bartch, wide receiver Tom Kennedy, and linebacker Devin White. This ain’t just a bump in the road, folks. Kennedy’s knee injury is a season-ender, a brutal hit for the squad’s offensive depth, making this more than just a regular injury report.
The Foot Injury That Won’t Quit
But the real head-scratcher here is Ben Bartch. This dude, a veteran left guard, is back on IR with a foot injury. Remember last season? He missed time. Training camp? More foot issues with that same foot. Even though Coach Dan Campbell said on Sept. 25 he didn’t think it was a long-term thing, here we are. Bartch started the opener against Buffalo back on Sept. 17 but hasn’t played or practiced since. Now, being placed on injured reserve means he’s officially out for at least the next four games. This recurring foot problem has gotta be a major worry for the team, and there’s no easy fix for a persistent issue like that.
Kennedy Out for the Season, White Out “A While”
Tom Kennedy’s knee, picked up in their win over Arizona on Sunday, Oct. 11, has him officially done for the season, which absolutely stings. Losing a receiver like that is never easy. Linebacker Devin White, also hurt in that Cardinals game with a forearm injury, is gonna be sidelined “a while,” according to Coach Campbell on Monday, Oct. 12. Good news is, Campbell thinks they’ll “get him back at some point,” but “a while” isn’t exactly a short stint, is it? The earliest either Bartch or White could even think about returning is for Detroit’s home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov. 11.
Help Is On The Way For Week 7
Look, it’s not all doom and gloom. Help is on the way, big time. Center Cade Mays is finally set to make his season debut in Week 7 against the Green Bay Packers, coming back from a wrist injury. That means Juice Scruggs, who’s been holding it down at center while Mays healed up, can slide into a depth role along the interior. And get this: safety Brian Branch, who tore his Achilles last December, is also expected to be back for Week 7! These two, assuming no setbacks, will fill two of the three new open spots the Lions now have on their active roster. Talk about a silver lining to all this injury news!
So, the Lions are on their bye week now, licking some wounds but also getting some key guys back. They’ll host the Green Bay Packers for Week 7, then the Minnesota Vikings (Week 8), followed by a visit to the Miami Dolphins (Week 9), and a game against the New England Patriots (Week 10) in Munich, Germany. Getting Mays and Branch back for the Packers game is absolutely massive, especially with Bartch and White sidelined. Every game matters right now, and getting healthy at the right time could be everything.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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