Unfortunately for the Detroit Lions, all that is at stake for them in their upcoming Week 18 matchup against the rival Chicago Bears and former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is bragging rights and attempting to finish above the .500 mark for the season.
The Bears have ended Detroit’s two year reign atop the NFC North Division standings, capturing their first division win since 2018. While they’re on their way to the NFL Playoffs, the Lions will be done for the season following Sunday’s game and will be faced with an offseason that arrived far earlier than they anticipated coming off the heels of a 15-2 campaign in 2024.
But if the Lions are to defeat the Bears for the second time this season and finish 9-8, they’ll have to do so while considerably shorthanded.
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The Detroit Lions Announced That Several Important Player Won’t Play Against the Bears in Week 18
For their Week 18 matchup against the Chicago Bears, the Lions announced that no less than five players will be unable to play.
The list of injured Lions who will not suit up include right tackle Penei Sewell (ankle), linebacker Alex Anzalone (concussion/personal), offensive lineman Trystan Colon (broken wrist), safety Thomas Harper (concussion), and defensive tackle Alim McNeill (oblique).
Lions head coach Dan Campbell acknowledged that while it’s disappointing that they won’t have several key players at their disposal, it represents an opportunity for players further down on the depth chart to show what they can do.
“Does it affect you not having [him]? Yeah, it does,” Campbell said of Sewell’s absence. “He’s a phenomenal player. He’s a phenomenal football player, yet we got guys who are going to step in and do a good job for us, man. They got a job to do, they’ll have a role and we expect them to hold up their end of the bargain.”
For Sewell, it will only be the second game that he’s missed during his NFL career.
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The Lions Have Also Listed Several Players As Questionable For Week 18
In addition to the confirmed absences from their lineup against the Bears, the Lions have also designated several players as being officially questionable to play.
They include left tackle Taylor Decker, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive linemen Christian Mahogany, Gio Manu and Kayode Awosika.
St. Brown was bothered by an ankle injury during Detroit’s annual Thanksgiving game, and continued to get banged up by experiencing knee pain in their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and on Christmas Day against the Minnesota Vikings.
Despite not participating in Detroit’s recent practice, St. Brown said that he hopes to play in their season finale in Chicago.
“I feel solid,” St. Brown said Thursday. “I would say a little banged up but good enough to go and that’s all that really matters.”
“Just being out there for the guys for my teammates,” he continued. “We’re blessed to be in the position that we are to play a sport that we love. To get paid to do what we do, go out there every Sunday and play. I mean, I love this game and I want to be out there every game if I can.”
The Lions and Bears are scheduled to kick-off from Soldier Field on Sunday starting at 4:25 p.m. ET.
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