Lions Struck by Illness Outbreak as Decker Inactive Against Vikings
The Detroit Lions face a challenging matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, as they officially announced a list of players sidelined for the game. Among them is left tackle Taylor Decker, who was added to the Game Status Report on Thursday and ultimately ruled inactive due to an illness that has swept through the team’s Allen Park Performance Center in recent days.
The 32-year-old veteran’s absence is a significant blow, especially as the Lions prepare to face a division rival on short rest. The illness has impacted several players and coaches, resulting in a total of 12 players being listed as questionable this week.
Injuries and Elevations
In addition to Decker, safety Avonte Maddox and offensive lineman Giovanni Manu have been ruled out for the game. To fill these gaps, the Lions elevated two practice squad players this week: tight end Giovanni Ricci and offensive lineman Kingsley Eguakun. Eguakun’s performance has garnered praise from both the coaching staff and quarterback Jared Goff, particularly for his solid play filling in for Graham Glasgow during last week’s contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Coach Campbell Weighs in on Player Health
Head coach Dan Campbell addressed the complexities of making decisions regarding players who may not be at full strength. This season has presented the Lions with a multitude of injuries to key contributors. For instance, safety Kerby Joseph attempted to manage a knee injury before ultimately being placed on injured reserve.
Decker, along with star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, has battled through various injuries throughout the season but has managed to suit up. Campbell highlighted the importance of assessing the nature of an injury before making a decision on whether a player should participate.
“I think it’s the type of injury,” Campbell explained. “What is that, and can it get worse, significantly worse? Of course, there’s a chance for it to feel worse but is it structurally – are we talking about something that’s going to be a career ender if we keep playing? Well, that’s totally different. But when it comes to injuries that won’t have that type of effect, you feel ready to go. I’m hearing from everybody that you’re healed, you’re 100 percent healed, and now it’s just about getting your feet back under you. You’ve just got to play.”
Campbell emphasized that players have done everything they can and that now it’s about competing. “As long as we check the box on all those, we try to make it go,” he added.
Game Day Expectations
As the Lions gear up to take on the Vikings, kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. (ET). The absence of key players like Decker adds an extra layer of difficulty to an already challenging divisional clash. The Lions will need to rally together and adapt quickly as they search for a crucial victory.
