Jonah Jackson of the Detroit Lions and Alex Anzalone are doubtful against the Saints.
For just the third time this season, the Detroit Lions may start their entire offensive line against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Jonah Jackson, a left guard, is graded as questionable on the Lions injury report despite practicing in full on Friday for the second straight day.
Due to a wrist injury he received during the Lions’ Week 10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, Jackson had missed the previous two games.
“We benefit whenever we can get him going,” Lions coach Dan Campbell remarked prior to practice. “He plays the game well. And he only strengthens that offensive line, which has been performing admirably.
Bruce Irvin, “like a kid the night before Christmas,” is the new guy waiting for his Lions debut.
Jackson is one of five offensive linemen who have missed time due to injuries this fall; he missed three games earlier in the season due to a high ankle sprain. Due to a high ankle sprain, left tackle Taylor Decker missed two games; Frank Ragnow, the center, missed one week due to a calf strain; guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai, the guard, is on injured reserve; and swing tackle Matt Nelson, the swing tackle, is out for the season due to a broken ankle.
In their 11 games this season, the Lions (8-3) have started eight different offensive line combinations.
According to Campbell, Jackson’s wrist’s “functionality” will dictate whether or not he can work on Sunday.
“Just being able to use it and feel like you can produce,” he stated. “That’s all part of it.”
Due to a hand injury, Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone is not expected to play after missing the entire week of practice. His status on the injury report was doubtful.
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Coach of linebackers Kelvin Sheppard stated, “Obviously we lost Alex and, no, I’m not going to slight this like we didn’t lose anything, but to my opinion, I told the room, we should take a step up.” “It’s just my wiring and anatomy, and having Alex say, ‘Oh, hold on, I have to go back,’ is just not right. And that’s when you create that atmosphere where everyone is doing this instead of everyone just trying to hold their heads up and say, “I hope we make it through this week until Alex returns.”
Malcolm Rodriguez is prepared for a two-way role against the Saints. “Greetings from the defense again.”
“Never mind. Just no. We are going to intensify the situation and exert more pressure on Alex. “These guys are about to ball, so you better get back to Anzo ASAP.”
In his 13-year NFL career, Saints defensive end Cam Jordan has only missed one game due to injury. However, he did not practice this week and is doubtful to play on Sunday due to an ankle injury.
Former Saints assistant Campbell described Jordan’s durability as “remarkable” and expressed his expectation that the 34-year-old pass rusher will be able to play on Sunday.
“There are two qualities about him: he never gets tired or hurt. And that’s not common,” Campbell remarked. “And to play for as long as he can and at his best because, despite a few instances in which he hasn’t felt well, he consistently turns up to play. Until otherwise stated, I expect him to be out there, but this is a really impressive streak. That’s uncommon in this league, really. It is not common. However, I have nothing but praise for Cam. He is a captain and an incredible player who gives them energy. He is thus a problem. He poses a problem for us.”
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Over his career, Jordan has participated in 202 out of 204 games. Until 2021, when COVID protocols prevented him from starting a game, he had started 172 games in a row. Jordan suffered an orbital bone fracture last year, which caused him to miss his first game.
