Dan Campbell raises eyebrows as Amon-Ra St. Brown’s availability looms for Bears clash
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell provided an update on the status of wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown as the team prepares for its season finale against the Chicago Bears. With the Lions officially out of the playoff picture, the decision to field starters who are nursing injuries has sparked debate. The question arises: Should the team risk playing banged-up players in a game that bears no immediate weight on the postseason roster?
While Campbell stopped short of giving a definitive answer regarding St. Brown’s participation, he labeled the receiver as day-to-day leading up to the Week 18 encounter. “Day-to-day. He wants to go, and he’ll be day-to-day,” Campbell noted, adding, “He’s improved.” St. Brown’s relentless competitive spirit is well-known, and he is eager to contribute despite ongoing injury concerns.
Injury hurdles for St. Brown
St. Brown has battled injuries in recent weeks, most notably suffering a low-ankle sprain during the Lions’ Thanksgiving Day loss to the Green Bay Packers. He managed to return the following week against the Dallas Cowboys, delivering an impressive six-catch, 92-yard performance. However, the road to recovery has been rocky. Campbell revealed that the wide receiver experienced a flare-up with his knee after the Lions’ loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 21. This setback kept St. Brown from practicing in the lead-up to the Christmas Day matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
Despite his limited practice time, St. Brown participated in the game, playing 83 percent of the snaps on a short week. Unfortunately, he sustained a low hit toward the end of the contest, which prevented him from finishing the game. Campbell acknowledged that the knee issue is “part of it” for St. Brown, suggesting that the wide receiver may be managing additional challenges. However, the coach expressed optimism about St. Brown’s long-term health, stating, “I think long-term he’s gonna be okay, which is good. That’s good news.”
A standout season for St. Brown
This season, St. Brown has continued to showcase his talents, accumulating over 100 receptions and more than 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth consecutive season. Through 16 games, the USC product has recorded 106 catches for 1,262 yards and 11 touchdowns. As a two-time First Team All-Pro, St. Brown is celebrated not only for his performance but also for his unwavering work ethic and durability. Throughout his five-year career, he has missed just two possible games.
As the Lions aim for their fourth consecutive winning season, a win against the NFC North champion Bears would secure that goal. The matchup is set to kick off at 4:25 p.m. at Soldier Field, raising the stakes for both teams as they face off in the final game of the regular season.
