The injury report alone could tell the story of this game, headlined by the Giants losing their starting quarterback and the Lions missing key defenders.
The Detroit Lions and New York Giants will meet Sunday at Ford Field with both teams dealing with extensive injury issues, as several starters on each side have been ruled out and multiple others are listed as questionable heading into the weekend.
The Giants will be without starting quarterback Jaxson Dart, who was officially ruled out after suffering a concussion two weeks ago. His absence places veteran Jameis Winston into the starting role, marking his second start of the season for New York. Winston will be tasked with leading an offense that has struggled with consistency and efficiency. Dart has much more mobility and improvisational ability than Winston which has been a key piece to New York’s limited success this year. Winston a more traditional pocket-passing quarterback may shift how the Giants approach their game plan.
New York also took another major blow defensively, as edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux has been ruled out. Thibodeaux, the former No. 5 overall draft pick, has been one of the few bright spots on a Giants defense that has dealt with inconsistencies across the board. Without him, New York loses one of its most dynamic pass rushers and a critical component of its third-down pressure packages.
Additional injuries further complicate the situation for New York. Cornerback Paulson Adebo and tight end Thomas Fidone II have also been ruled out, weakening both the secondary and offensive depth. The lone piece of good news for the Giants came with wide receiver Darius Slayton being removed from the injury report, ensuring Winston will at least have one of his most reliable targets available.
The Lions received some tough news today as Sam LaPorta underwent back surgery and is unlikely to comeback this season as Detroit will also enter the game short-handed on both sides of the ball. Safety Kerby Joseph has been ruled out for the fifth straight game as he continues to recover from a lingering knee injury. Cornerback Terrion Arnold, who has been playing much better later in the season will also miss his second consecutive game due to a concussion. The loss of both Joseph and Arnold leaves the Lions thin in the secondary against a quarterback known for his willingness to test downfield coverage.
Detroit’s pass rush and run defense will be impacted as well, with defensive linemen Marcus Davenport and Josh Paschal both ruled out. The hope is that both are close to playing but Dan Campbell is holding them back for the Thanksgiving Day game. Aidan Hutchinson, Al-Quadin Muhammad, and Alim McNeill are set to carry the workload.
Offensively, the Lions have a long list of players designated as questionable, including starting tackles Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell, center Graham Glasgow, and guard Tate Ratledge. The status of these linemen will be critical to Detroit’s game plan, especially considering their emphasis on controlling the line of scrimmage. Defensive backs D.J. Reed and Khalil Dorsey, as well as return specialist Sione Vaki and wide receiver Isaac Teslaa are also listed as questionable.
With multiple starters sidelined and several key contributors uncertain to play, both teams enter Sunday’s contest in survival mode. The Lions will look to rely on their depth and home-field advantage, while the Giants face the challenge of adjusting to a new quarterback and a depleted defensive front.