Midweek additions to the injury report are often a bad development and the Lions had a notable one on Thursday.
Center Graham Glasgow did not take part in practice because of a knee injury. Glasgow has missed one game this season and his status at Friday’s practice will provide more of an idea for his outlook against the Steelers on Sunday.
Safety Kerby Joseph (knee) remained out of practice, but left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder) returned for a limited session.
Offensive lineman Trystan Colon (wrist), offensive lineman Giovanni Manu (knee), and cornerback Amik Robertson (hand) were also limited participants. Left guard Kayode Awosika (foot), safety Thomas Harper (concussion), right guard Christian Mahogany (fibula), and running back Sione Vaki (thumb) were full participants.
The Steelers still do not have one of their top players on the practice field as they get ready to face the Lions.
Linebacker T.J. Watt remains sidelined after having a lung procedure last week. At this point, it appears unlikely that Watt will be available for Week 16.
Fellow linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring), guard Isaac Seumalo (triceps), and cornerback James Pierre (calf) also remained sidelined for the second practice of the week.
Center Zach Frazier (triceps) and safety Jabrill Peppers (illness) were added to the report as non-participants for Thursday.
Long snapper Christian Kuntz (knee) and defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (ankle) were added to the report as limited participants.
Receiver Ben Skowronek (illness/hand) and offensive lineman Andrus Peat (concussion) remained limited.
Defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee) and quarterback Aaron Rodgers (left wrist) remained full participants.
The emergence of Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs as a budding star this season has led the Lions’ other running back, David Montgomery, to take a backseat. After being a starter throughout his career, Montgomery has served as Gibbs’ backup this season, and Montgomery is averaging career lows in carries per game and yards per game.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell said today that Montgomery isn’t thrilled about that, but he is dealing with it the right way.
“David is a pro. He goes about his business, he handles it,” Campbell said. “I know that’s not easy. It’s not easy. He’s a damn good back, and every good player wants their chance to help the team win and get some production. So I know it can’t be easy. I know it’s not easy. He’s a pro. He handles his business and goes about it, and whenever you call his number he’s ready to go. It’s something I think about a lot, is how to get them all involved. When they’re all involved we’re better. We’re a better offense. Where do we get him touches, where do we find them? I think about him a lot.”
Montgomery is scheduled to make $6 million in 2026, but none of that is guaranteed, which means there’s a good chance he won’t be back with the Lions next year. Montgomery may be down to his last few games as a Lion, and in the offseason he may be looking for a team that will give him a chance to be a starter.
The Lions remained without safety Kerby Joseph at Wednesday’s practice.
Joseph has been sidelined by a knee injury since Week 6 and there’s been no clear timeline for his return to action. With Brian Branch out for the season, the Lions started Avonte Maddox and Erick Hallett against the Rams last weekend but Hallett, who was promoted from the practice squad, has since signed with the Titans.
Thomas Harper was a full participant as he recovers from a concussion and he will likely start against the Steelers if he’s fully cleared.
Left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder) was the only other player out of practice Wednesday. Offensive lineman Trystan Colon (wrist), offensive lineman Giovani Manu (knee), and defensive back Amik Robertson (hand) were limited participants. Left guard Kayode Asowika (foot) and guard Christian Mahogany (fibula) joined Brown as full participants.
When it comes to the unusual situation that required lung surgery for Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, coach Mike Tomlin didn’t know much last week. And he doesn’t know much this week.
Meeting with reporters on Tuesday, Tomlin addressed Watt’s status while discussing the team’s injury situation in advance of Week 16 at the Detroit Lions.
“I got no new news on T.J.,” Tomlin said. “I’m sure I will a little later in the week, but I hadn’t heard any new updates regarding his availability or what that looks like as he starts to work his way back to us this week. And so no real news there.”
He was later asked if Watt has returned to the facility.
“I don’t know if he’s been in the facility yet, because I’ve been in the dark room in the back,” Tomlin said. “He might be in the facility as we speak, and so I don’t have a lot of the answers to that, and I was just trying to be transparent when I said I didn’t have any new information as I stood here today.”
Tomlin then was asked if he knew anything more about the dry-needling technique that reportedly caused the lung injury, and whether it would or wouldn’t continue within the building.
“I have no new information regarding that,” Tomlin said, “none whatsoever.”
On one hand, Tomlin has a lot of work to do to get ready for the next game, especially on a short week. On the other hand, Watt is one of the most important players on the team, and his injury happened in a very unusual way. Some coaches would want to know everything there is to know about what happened, how it happened, and how something like that can be prevented from happening again.
It’s hard not to wonder whether Tomlin has chosen to keep as far away as he can from something that could become a problem for the organization, once the time comes to get to the bottom of the rabbit hole as to how a hole ended up being punctured into Watt’s lung. If/when it becomes a grievance or a lawsuit or any other mess that requires statements and testimony and other things that would distract Tomlin from his primary job duties, it makes sense for him — if, as it appears, he doesn’t know anything at all — to keep it that way.
