With Playoff Hopes Slipping, Injuries Are Occurring At Worst Times For Detroit.

Win or go home. That is the basic summary of the rest of the season for the Detroit Lions. With the number of injuries building up late in the season, that objective is going to be much harder to achieve. While the Lions do have one of the easiest schedules in the NFL in the next four weeks, losing players isn’t going to make it any easier.

Losing their starting quarterback Matt Stafford would be a big hit to those chances of post-season play and with an already struggling and beaten offensive line, that won’t make it any easier for the offense. Injuries aren’t just on the offense as the defense has certainly taken its licks this season.

Rick Wagner and T.J. Lang Miss Practice

Starting right tackle Rick Wagner hasn’t practiced at all this week, as he suffered an ankle injury against Baltimore. Odds are he will miss this week again.

Starting right guard T.J. Lang hasn’t practiced this week so far due to his foot injury but last week he didn’t practice on Wednesday and Thursday but still played. Lang will most likely be listed as questionable for the game but unless a flare occurs, he should be good to go.

Ziggy Ansah Reappears on Injury Report, Ameer Abdullah Returns in Limited Fashion

Just when you think starting defensive end Ziggy Ansah is on track to be his old self by not appearing on the injury report last week, he gets hurt during the game and makes his appearance on the report once again – with an ankle injury. Ansah hasn’t practiced at all this week so far, so Friday’s injury report will be the telling story on if Ansah will miss this weeks game.

Starting running back Ameer Abdullah missed last weeks game and practices with a neck injury but he seems to be improving. Abdullah has been limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, so things are looking up. With something like a neck injury though, the team won’t want to risk him playing if that could mean serious damage. Odds are he is a 50/50 shot to play on Sunday.

Corey Robinson and Emmett Cleary Appear on Report with Limited Practice

More offensive lineman are getting hurt as guard Corey Robinson was limited in practice with a foot injury. He is playing guard as starting left guard Graham Glasgow moved to center for the injured Travis Swanson. Robinson’s injury doesn’t seem that serious, so you should see him start at left guard if Swanson isn’t healed up.

Backup offensive lineman Emmett Cleary wasn’t listed on the injury report on Wednesday, but suddenly appears to have an ankle injury that made him limited in practice. Odds are that he injured himself in practice on Wednesday and the offensive line as a unit takes another hit as a new injury pops up to their depth.

Jamal Agnew and Travis Swanson both Improved to Limited Practice

Another set of good news. First is that star rookie kick returner Jamal Agnew is practicing in a limited fashion as he is still recovering from a knee injury. He could see the field this week but it is more likely that he returns next week.

Swanson missed last week with a knee injury that he suffered against Minnesota and he didn’t practice at all. Him upgraded to limited in the injury report is a good sign that his recovery is coming along and he could be on the field soon.

Matt Stafford and Cornelius Washington both Practicing but not Full Participants

The most important person people are wondering about is Stafford. X-rays after the game showed his hand wasn’t fractured, which is a very good sign. He was seen with a towel wrapped around his arm and while he has been limited in practice this week, reports are saying that his arm looks fine. Stafford will most likely be a game-time decision.

Defensive end Cornelius Washington was also limited in practice this week, as he is dealing with a shoulder injury. His status should be questionable come tomorrow’s final report.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Injury Report

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were without their starting quarterback Jameis Winston for three weeks. The good news for Buccaneer fans is that he is back, the bad news for Lions fans is that he is back. When it comes to other Buccaneer players, some aren’t so lucky and are pretty banged up.

Safeties T.J. Ward (concussion), and Josh Robinson (hamstring) both didn’t practice so far this week, along with defensive tackle Clinton McDonald (back), and cornerback Vernon Hargreaves (hamstring). One other player was limited in practice and it was defensive end Ryan Russell (knee) as he missed practice on Wednesday but upgraded to limited on Thursday. Overall, the odds are most of these players miss the game on Sunday, as Russell could be the only one to have a chance to play.

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