STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
NFL Team Report - Detroit Lions</h2><br>FRIDAY INJURY REPORT<p></p>DETROIT LIONS<p></p> --OUT: WR Bruce Ellington (hamstring), DL Da'Shawn Hand (knee), RB Kerryon Johnson (knee), T Rick Wagner (concussion), S Charles Washington (hamstring)<p></p> --QUESTIONABLE: LB Trevor Bates (ankle), FB Nick Bellore (ankle), CB Marcus Cooper Sr. (back), T Taylor Decker (shoulder), LB Devon Kennard (hip), QB Matthew Stafford (back)<p></p>BUFFALO BILLS<p></p> --OUT: CB Ryan Lewis (concussion)<p></p> --QUESTIONABLE: K Stephen Hauschka (right hip), RB Chris Ivory (shoulder), RB LeSean McCoy (hamstring), TE Logan Thomas (hamstring)<p></p><p></p>PLAYER NOTES<p></p> --RB Kerryon Johnson will miss his fourth straight game with a knee injury Sunday in Buffalo. Johnson remains the Lions' leading rusher, but the team has survived his absence well. The Lions have topped 100 yards rushing in each of the last three games.<p></p> --DL Da'Shawn Hand suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain last week against Arizona and will miss Sunday's game against the Bills. Hand was one of eight players who left the Cardinals game early with injuries. S Charles Washington also is expected to miss at least one week with a hamstring injury.<p></p> --TE Michael Roberts landed on injured reserve Tuesday because of a recurring shoulder injury. One of college football's premier red-zone threats as a senior at Toledo, Roberts has had a disappointing start to his NFL career. He has just 13 catches for 146 yards in two seasons, and was suspended for the final game of his rookie season for violating team rules.<p></p> PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: DE Romeo Okwara. The Lions found some unexpected pass-rushing help in September when they claimed Okwara off waivers from the New York Giants. Okwara leads the Lions with 6.5 sacks in 12 games - he had just one sack in two seasons with the Giants - and has made 11 starts at right end. With Ezekiel Ansah out for the year and facing shoulder surgery, Okwara should see even more playing time over the final three weeks. He's a native of Nigeria who was cut from his middle school team, but who's blossomed as a pass rusher this year.<p></p> GAME PLAN: The Lions have followed a pretty similar game plan for three straight weeks: Run the ball with LeGarrette Blount, throw short, safe passes with Matthew Stafford, keep the clock moving to shorten the game, and try and win the field position battle on defense. The Bills have the NFL's top-ranked pass defense, and as depleted as the Lions are on offense, there's not much upside to forcing the ball downfield. Stafford has been turnover-prone this year and outdoors in his career, and the Lions have been inconsistent with their pass protection on the offensive line. They need another solid game out of Blount and the rushing attack to keep Jerry Hughes and Co. at bay.<p></p> Defensively, the Lions have done an excellent job of keeping mobile quarterbacks like Cam Newton (two carries, 2 yards), Mitchell Trubisky (3-18) and Russell Wilson (2-15) in the pocket, and they'll likely use Jarrad Davis to spy Josh Allen on Sunday. Darius Slay has a tough assignment with Zay Jones, though the Lions could play more zone coverage than usual given Allen's strengths (he leads all NFL quarterbacks in rushing). The Bills do like to take deep shots with their speedy receiving corps, and when they do it's imperative for Devon Kennard and Romeo Okwara to get pressure off the edge.<p></p>MATCHUPS TO WATCH:<p></p> --Lions coach Matt Patricia vs. Bills OC Brian Daboll. College rivals in upstate New York, Daboll hired Patricia for his first job with the New England Patriots as a low-level assistant on Bill Belichick's staff in 2004. Daboll and Patricia have coached with or against each other for most of the past 15 years, and know each other well. Daboll calls offensive plays for the Bills, while Patricia oversees the Lions defense. "We've been kind of intertwined my entire career here in the NFL," Patricia said. "So this will just be another chapter of that. But it also makes it a little bit difficult from that standpoint, too, when you know people as well as we both know each other and kind of the different backgrounds that we have."<p></p> --Lions WR Kenny Golladay vs. Bills CB Tre'Davious White. Golladay is the Lions' only weapon of consequence on the outside, and someone they'll need Sunday to help loosen up a good Bills defense and get the running game on track. Golladay managed just two catches for 5 yards against Patrick Peterson last week, and he faces another good cornerback Sunday in White. The Bills have no reason to fear Bruce Ellington or TJ Jones, so as long as they keep Golladay from making chunk plays, they should be able to force the Lions to sustain scoring drives.
</div>
<div class="flex gap-2">
<div class="font-bold text-gray-600">The Sports Xchange</div>
</div>
<div id="comments" class="pt-6"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="py-6 space-y-6">
<div class="space-y-4">
<h2 class="md:col-span-2 lg:col-span-3 font-bold text-xl text-gray-800">Recent Stories</h2>
<a href="/feature/testing-buffalo-bill-page" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Testing Buffalo Bill Page</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
Joe Horrigan knows the Buffalo Bills
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/feature/06e3032cec6e442ab60a7fd8ae1b3701" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Steelers positional analysis: Kenny Pickett stands alone in QB room</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
2/17/2024If the Steelers were concerned about the uncertain future at quarterback when Ben Roethlisberger retired, the outlook at the position might not be any more ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/feature/07f24b7086b24e9e83c29e8bf9cd913b" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">49ers coach Kyle Shanahan doesn’t deserve criticism since Super Bowl</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
Globe StaffUpdated February 17, 2024, 9:38 a.m.Kyle Shanahan has been on the defensive all week following the 49ers’ 25-22 overtime loss to the Chiefs in the Super ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/feature/2ae9263e12c74de88c5fb4aa552a1f3e" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">New Raiders GM expected to be aggressive in search for top QB</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
February 17, 2024 - 4:19 PMIf Tom Telesco’s past offers clues about his future, expect the Raiders’ new general manager to be aggressive in bringing in a top-level ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/features?skip=22" class="group flex items-center justify-center gap-2 bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg shadow px-3.5 py-2.5 text-gray-800 hover:text-gray-700 font-medium">
<span>Read More Stories</span>
<span class="transition-transform group-hover:translate-x-1 motion-reduce:transform-none"><i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-right"></i></span>
</a>
</div>
<div class="space-y-4">
<h2 class="md:col-span-2 lg:col-span-3 font-bold text-xl text-gray-800">Latest Player Notes</h2>
<a href="/note/65f70668f166e2567ab51b31" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
Mar 15, 2024
Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/note/65f70667f166e2567ab51b24" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
Mar 15, 2024
Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/note/65f70667f166e2567ab51b11" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
By Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/note/65f70664f166e2567ab51ad3" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/note/65f70661f166e2567ab51a86" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/note/65f70661f166e2567ab51a7d" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Ball security, leadership key as Aztecs look to identify starting quarterback</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
San Diego State seemingly auditions a new starting quarterback on an annual basis.In the past 12 years, the Aztecs have opened ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/note/65f7065ff166e2567ab51a5a" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Results and more: A look at what happened at Penn State football’s Pro Day inside Holuba Hall</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
Most of those at Penn State’s Pro Day Friday were relatively quiet throughout the afternoon’s workouts, but there was one ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/note/65f7065ef166e2567ab51a4a" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Defense dominates first two weeks of Oregon State spring practice as Beavers ready for 2-week breather</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
CORVALLIS – Oregon State hit the break of spring practices Saturday, not exactly the midpoint but a good place to assess ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/note/65f7065ef166e2567ab51a31" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Dillon Gabriel to have similar input, autonomy as Bo Nix had in Oregon’s offense</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
Published Mar. 16, 2024, 6:26 p.m.By James CrepeaEUGENE — Dillon Gabriel will have much of the same autonomy as Bo Nix did ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/note/65f7065df166e2567ab51a1d" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow">
<div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6">
<h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Two transfers, one underclassman who impressed in Missouri football's spring game</h3>
<div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6">
<span class="font-light"> </span>
With that, spring camp’s a wrap.Missouri football held its Black & Gold spring game Saturday in front of a healthy crowd ...
</div>
</div>
</a>
<a href="/notes?skip=20" class="group flex items-center justify-center gap-2 bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg shadow px-3.5 py-2.5 text-gray-800 hover:text-gray-700 font-medium">
<span>See More Player Notes</span>
<span class="transition-transform group-hover:translate-x-1 motion-reduce:transform-none"><i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-right"></i></span>
</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</main>
<!-- =========={ FOOTER }========== -->
<footer class="bg-gray-900" aria-labelledby="footer-heading">
<h2 id="footer-heading" class="sr-only">Footer</h2>
<div class="mx-auto max-w-7xl px-6 pb-8 pt-16 sm:pt-24 lg:px-8 lg:pt-32">
<div class="xl:grid xl:grid-cols-3 xl:gap-8">
<div class="space-y-8">
<a href="/" class="flex items-center justify-between md:justify-start gap-3">
<img src="/static/images/Pro_Football_Hall_of_Fame_logo.svg.png?v=c6d7cf3613f0e96a1fab7aab706baba8318bf3d016f59cbaef2b968d81cb8a3078e61f99dee19ca3a6a4bf476d34981c18a5b19f15ac2da0ae29d677be70ebad" alt="NFL Hall of Fame" class="w-2/12" />
<img src="/static/images/hall-logo.svg?v=7142371ad3e955e1749283170eb357dfed785130bc4b7018879d586e9bac3d40a3b7041b25e105981fd507b5f139a52b87438262733cadfa76f763ec18812523" alt="Hall of Football" class="w-6/12" />
<img src="/static/images/tsx_logo.png?v=eb566de558e45b6331e9b1ddba019c212d34ad6dddeab86829489d36e4974961a8dd4926d489b9ac8eaeeacdafce8a6f4974b5a97dd7df4694d4642b94c437ea" alt="The Sports Xchange" class="w-2/12" />
</a>
<p class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300">Hall of Football is owned and operated by The Sports Xchange (TSX), which has provided news, analysis, and research for fans and professionals since 1987.</p>
<div class="flex space-x-6">
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/sports-xchange/" target="_blank" class="text-gray-500 hover:text-gray-400 text-2xl">
<span class="sr-only">LinkedIn</span>
<i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin"></i>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="mt-16 grid grid-cols-2 gap-8 xl:col-span-2 xl:mt-0">
<div class="md:grid md:grid-cols-2 md:gap-8">
<div>
<h3 class="text-sm font-semibold leading-6 text-white flex items-center gap-2"><i class="fa-solid fa-football fa-fw"></i>Preps</h3>
<ul role="list" class="mt-6 space-y-4">
<li>
<a href="/preps" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Latest News & Notes</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/prep/ratings?ranking_id=" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Ratings</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="mt-10 md:mt-0">
<h3 class="text-sm font-semibold leading-6 text-white flex items-center gap-2"><i class="fa-solid fa-graduation-cap fa-fw"></i>NFL Draft Scout</h3>
<ul role="list" class="mt-6 space-y-4">
<li>
<a href="/features" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Latest News & Notes</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/cfb/teams" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Teams</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/player/ratings?ranking_id=" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Ratings</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="md:grid md:grid-cols-2 md:gap-8">
<div>
<h3 class="text-sm font-semibold leading-6 text-white flex items-center gap-2"><i class="fa-solid fa-shield fa-fw"></i>Pro Football</h3>
<ul role="list" class="mt-6 space-y-4">
<li>
<a href="/nfl_features" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Latest News & Notes</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="/nfl/teams" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Teams</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="mt-10 md:mt-0">
<h3 class="text-sm font-semibold leading-6 text-white flex items-center gap-2"><i class="fa-solid fa-trophy fa-fw"></i>Hall of Fame</h3>
<ul role="list" class="mt-6 space-y-4">
<li>
<a href="/hofs" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Recent Hall of Fame Stories</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="mt-16 border-t border-white/10 pt-8 sm:mt-20 lg:mt-24">
<p class="text-xs leading-5 text-gray-400">©<script>document.write(new Date().getFullYear())</script> The Sports Xchange. All rights reserved.</p>
</div>
</div>
</footer>
<script src="/static/js/jquery-3.6.4.min.js?v=6913f9128895022b08339049963616cb09bbc61bd759a45c3bf7cb6662854f0c3ef16d975758468c34cd607176c011d9c62f5fcb8196cba93d0b4b265760747e"></script>
<script src="/static/js/plotly.min.js?v=a8cca95f0be13f9712eebf9dfc13afb3aa92d319a96a0ee5540833aad7ace213d48ea1a1650310a035a02064ca97e09738bc4aad659ad66e840d408c6290fcee"></script>
<script src="/static/js/flowbite.min.js?v=09453b0f96202c849a154e82a425e65c6e9d6430fb468601a1c1f0ba4c9ded2624172d29ee03f7cd71922ceb49d5b10b2672ba698060e2dee19e5d1df0393660"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="/static/js/comments.js?v=75fa06f9940025e48e822761e5ffd57823c34ebd04636803f6d08b70a146d0360b304adbdbb2cc1e1686620862c3d94512a714acb1ea55855cb9db5c5d8c4115"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
// get any comments for this feature
$(document).ready(function() {
load_comments(
'note',
'strategy-and-personnel',
''
)
})
</script>
</body>
</html>