By Sunday 
Detroit Lions fans might want to keep Thursday’s schedule loose, because the team’s biggest gameday decision won’t be coming until the morning of kickoff. Amon-Ra St. Brown — the heartbeat of Detroit’s offense — is leaving his status up to how he feels on Thursday. And if you know anything about St. Brown, you already know what direction he’s leaning.
Amon-Ra vs. the Ankle
St. Brown tweaked his ankle in the first quarter of last week’s loss to the Packers, and it’s been stubborn ever since. Despite not practicing Monday or Tuesday, the Pro Bowl wideout insists he’s taking things “day by day,” doing everything possible to be out there with his teammates.
“It hurts, but he’s getting better, so that’s the good news,” St. Brown said. He’s focused on testing his ability to cut and change direction — the kind of movements that make him such a nightmare to defend.
And here’s the part Lions fans will appreciate: he made it clear that stakes, standings, and playoff math don’t change his approach.
“Me, I want to play every game… your availability is your best ability,” he said. “Whether we’re 0-13 or 13-0, it doesn’t matter… I gotta be out there.”
Dan Campbell’s Stance: Simple and Brutally Honest
Dan Campbell didn’t complicate things either. His message on St. Brown was short, sweet, and very Campbell:
“If he can play, he’ll play.”
No fluff. No mystery. Just faith in his guy’s toughness.
Campbell added that St. Brown is “better” — not 100%, not practicing, but trending in the right direction. And make no mistake: Detroit desperately needs him.
With the Lions sitting at 7-5 and the Cowboys breathing down their necks at 6-5-1, this game could swing a wild-card tiebreaker months from now.
Lions Already Short-Handed
Even if St. Brown suits up, Detroit’s receiver room is running thin. Campbell doesn’t expect Kalif Raymond (ankle) to go, which would leave the Lions even more reliant on their young guys.
On defense, things are equally frustrating.
Terrion Arnold’s Tough Year Continues
Rookie corner Terrion Arnold has been placed on injured reserve — again — with the same shoulder injury that’s haunted him most of the season. Campbell admitted the shoulder “hasn’t gone away” and called it “one of those years” for Arnold, who has fought off a laundry list of injuries since summer.
Kerby Joseph Gutted But Grinding
Kerby Joseph returned to practice wearing a heavy brace on his left knee. He didn’t look thrilled, and when asked how he fixes the knee issue?
“You don’t fix it. Just keep the faith,” he said.
Campbell noted no setbacks, but also no magic turnaround — just a lot of grit and grit alone.
The O-Line Joins the Injury Party
Throw in new injuries to Penei Sewell (shoulder) and limited action for Taylor Decker, Graham Glasgow, Brian Branch, and Sione Vaki, and suddenly Thursday’s showdown looks like a survival test more than a football game.
Detroit needs every healthy body they can get… but one in particular. And if Amon-Ra St. Brown wakes up Thursday feeling even remotely capable?
Yeah… he’s playing.