The Detroit Lions are navigating a critical stretch of the 2025 season as injuries continue to impact several key contributors across the roster. Recent updates from team sources and league reports outline a mixture of long-term losses and potential returns, painting a complex picture of the club’s health entering the final month of the regular season. With multiple starters sidelined on both sides of the ball, Detroit’s depth has been tested extensively, forcing the coaching staff to adjust personnel and scheme on a weekly basis.
Among the most significant setbacks, the Lions have confirmed that cornerback Terrion Arnold will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery. The former first-round pick had been a central piece of Detroit’s secondary before suffering the injury. Additionally, tight ends Brock Wright and Sam LaPorta remain on injured reserve, both dealing with severe neck and back issues respectively, with no realistic expectation of returning before season’s end. Cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. has also been ruled out for the year after being placed on IR.
While those losses are permanent, Detroit is monitoring several players who may be nearing full health. Defensive end Josh Paschal and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez have both resumed practice activities, signaling that each could rejoin the rotation later this month. Their availability would provide a meaningful lift for a defense that has struggled with consistency and depth in recent weeks. Team officials also noted that veteran cornerback D.J. Reed is progressing well and remains on track for a December return.
Detroit is also anticipating defensive end Marcus Davenport’s potential return before the end of the regular season. The veteran edge rusher has been rehabbing steadily with hopes of contributing during the Lions’ playoff push. On offense, rookie guard Christian Mahogany continues to make progress, with an outside chance of being activated late in December. While his return is not guaranteed, his presence would help stabilize a line that has endured multiple injuries this year.
Even with these encouraging updates, the Lions face several challenges in reintegrating recovering players. Those returning from extended absences will require time to regain conditioning and game rhythm, limiting their immediate impact. Meanwhile, the team’s depth at tight end and in the secondary remains thin due to season-ending injuries, forcing Detroit to rely on backups and practice-squad call-ups in critical situations. Coaching adjustments may be necessary to mitigate these vulnerabilities.
Overall, Detroit’s injury outlook presents both hope and uncertainty as the franchise continues its push toward postseason contention. The expected return of several defensive contributors could strengthen the roster at a crucial time, but the loss of multiple starters — particularly in the secondary and tight end group — will require strategic adaptations. How effectively the Lions manage these personnel challenges may ultimately determine their trajectory during the final stretch of the 2025 campaign.
