Lions injuries: There’s good and bad news for Detroit ahead of Week 6

The Detroit Lions have dealt with no shortage of injuries over the first four games of the 2024 season. On Monday, head coach Dan Campbell provided both good and bad news coming out of the bye week.

Do you want the good news or the bad news first? Let’s start with the bad news: It appears the Lions may not have linebacker Derrick Barnes, who is dealing with a knee injury, for the rest of the season, Campbell told reporters.

“We will be fortunate to get him (back) at any point this year,” Campbell said of Barnes’ status, per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic.

Barnes suffered the injury during the Week 3 win over the Arizona Cardinals and was placed on injured reserve last week. Barnes was coming off a breakout year in 2023 and was off to an impressive start to the 2024 campaign.

With Barnes sidelined for what looks like the rest of 2024, we’ll see more of Malcolm Rodriguez and Jalen Reeves-Maybin. The Lions are fortunate to have a very deep group at linebacker, along with Alex Anzalone and Jack Campbell.

Now, for the good news: Campbell revealed that both center Frank Ragnow and defensive back Brian Branch practiced on Monday. This would seem to indicate they’re on track to play in Week 6.

Branch was a late addition to the Week 4 injury report with an illness before being ruled out. Ragnow is dealing with a partially torn pectoral muscle and the team decided to hold him out against the Seahawks.

In Ragnow’s absence, the Lions slid Graham Glasgow over to center and inserted Kayode Awosika in at left guard. Both players were excellent and Detroit went on to enjoy an offensive explosion. Brandon Joseph filled-in for Branch.