The Detroit Lions are heading to Germany for their Week 10 clash against the New England Patriots, but they are doing it without three key players. Center Cade Mays, cornerback D.J. Reed, and safety Kerby Joseph have all been ruled OUT for Sunday’s game. This is a tough blow, especially with Mays and Reed already expected to be sidelined based on earlier comments from head coach Dan Campbell.
Key Players Sidelined and What It Means
Losing Mays at center means the Lions are turning to Juice Scruggs to start. That’s a big ask for a player stepping into the middle of the offensive line against a Patriots defense. On the defensive side, the absence of D.J. Reed means we’ll see a corner rotation. Look for Rock Ya-Sin to line up opposite Roger McCreary. That’s going to be a crucial matchup to watch, especially early in the game. Then there’s Kerby Joseph, who’s also out with a knee injury and is on the PUP list. This one feels a bit different. Joseph actually got a full practice in on Thursday, which is encouraging, but he is still ruled out for this game. The bigger story here is his injury evaluation window, which is nearing its end. A decision on the rest of his season is coming early next week. None of these three guys are even making the trip to Germany. It’s a tough pill to swallow for the team’s depth.
The Encouraging Upside: Stars Getting Healthy
It’s not all bad news, though. While some key players are out, we’ve got some serious upgrades elsewhere on the injury report. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is nursing a rib injury, but all signs point to him being a go for Sunday. You know how competitive this guy is, especially with the importance of this game to him and his family. He’s doing everything possible to be ready. That’s huge for the offense.
And get this, quarterback Jared Goff, who was only estimated to be a limited participant on Wednesday, took the field Thursday and practiced fully with a chest injury. Same goes for safety Brian Branch, who was also estimated limited but got in a full practice with his hip injury. Both Goff and Branch are on track to play, which is fantastic news for the Lions. Running back Jacob Saylors, who has been battling neck and hamstring issues and even missed last game, has stacked full practices and looks set to return. Even EDGE DJ Wonnum, who’s been in concussion protocols, cleared a major hurdle by getting through Wednesday’s practice. Campbell mentioned that was a big step, so there’s a real chance Wonnum could be available too.
This Week 10 game in Germany is not just a novelty trip. It’s a significant matchup for the Lions. With key players out, the replacements like Scruggs, Ya-Sin, and McCreary will be under the microscope. But the returns of Goff, Branch, and potentially Saylors and Wonnum could absolutely swing this game. It will be a true test of this team’s depth and resilience this Sunday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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