By Moses Joshua 
Injuries, uncertainty, and rising pressure threaten to derail Detroit’s final playoff push
A Season Hanging in the Balance
It has been years since December football carried as much weight for the Detroit Lions as it does now. Detroit is battered, inconsistent, and sliding at the worst possible moment — but still alive. At 7–5, the Lions remain in the NFC playoff race, even if the road is far steeper than they expected months ago.
Their Thanksgiving loss to the Green Bay Packers dealt a major hit to their postseason hopes, leaving both the Packers and Chicago Bears firmly ahead in the NFC North standings. The margin for error is gone.
“Things are a little different, that’s all,” head coach Dan Campbell reflected after the game. “Sometimes you’ve got to go about things a little differently.”
Despite the frustration, Campbell praised his team’s effort, noting improvements in the run game and protection. But with Detroit needing to win out to feel secure, the timing of their latest setback couldn’t be worse.
Amon-Ra St. Brown’s Injury Looms Large
With the Dallas Cowboys coming to Ford Field on Thursday, December 4, Detroit received troubling news: Amon-Ra St. Brown, one of the Lions’ most irreplaceable playmakers, was unable to practice on Monday.
St. Brown left the Packers game with an injury, and his early-week absence raises serious doubt about his availability for Thursday. Losing him — especially in a game carrying near–playoff stakes — would be a major blow to a unit already struggling for consistency.
He wasn’t the only concern. Kalif Raymond, Terrion Arnold, and Brock Wright were also limited or absent on Monday, further thinning the depth chart at multiple key positions.
This is not the kind of injury report a team wants before facing a Dallas squad fighting for its own postseason life.
A Thin Silver Lining: Kerby Joseph Returns
There was at least one encouraging development: the return of All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph to practice. Unfortunately, even that came with a dose of uncertainty.
“My knee’s messed up,” Joseph admitted when asked about his condition. When pressed about how it could be fixed, he added, “You don’t fix it. Just keep the faith.”
Joseph, who became the highest-paid safety in NFL history after signing a four-year, $86 million extension this offseason, is vital to Detroit’s defensive identity. He led the league with nine interceptions last year and has been a stabilizing force in the secondary. But his hesitant tone leaves questions about just how close he is to being fully healthy.
Campbell Doubles Down on Aggression
As the Lions prepare for a game that could define the rest of their season, Campbell made one thing clear: he isn’t backing off from his trademark aggressive style.
When asked whether he might reconsider his fourth-down decisions, Campbell didn’t hesitate.
“No… a lot of it depends on where the game is at,” he said. He emphasized that his choices come down to feel, matchup confidence, and preparation — and that won’t change now. “Going into it we liked those plays… No, I wouldn’t say necessarily that’s going to have an effect on me.”
It’s a mindset Detroit will need. Injuries are mounting, the schedule is unforgiving, and the playoff picture is tightening by the week.
The Final Stretch
The Lions aren’t out of this — not yet. But Thursday’s showdown with Dallas has taken on new urgency. Missing players like St. Brown or Arnold could tilt the matchup, while the offense continues trying to rediscover its rhythm.
Detroit must battle through injuries, adversity, and pressure in what has become a must-win stretch run.
The task is difficult. The window is narrow.
But the opportunity is still there — if the Lions can survive the latest blow.