By Blessing 
Detroit Lions Overcame Injuries, But Can They Avoid Another Rough Year?
The 2024 Detroit Lions were nothing short of dominant. A 15-win season proved they were a powerhouse, built on grit, culture, and resilience. But even the best teams can’t outrun bad luck—especially when injuries pile up.
From Aidan Hutchinson to critical secondary players and depth pieces, it seemed like no one was safe. At times, their injury report felt more like a complete roster than a list of sidelined players.
Team president Rod Wood hasn’t forgotten how brutal the season was. But in his mind? That chapter is closed.
“We Had the Plane Crash”
During the NFL Annual League Meetings, Wood addressed the team’s injury struggles head-on. To sum it up, he used an unexpected movie reference.
“I was talking to Dan Campbell about this the other day,” Wood said. “And I don’t know if you saw The World According to Garp… There’s a scene where Robin Williams and Glenn Close are shopping for a house. They’ve gone through it. They’re out on the sidewalk looking at it, and a plane crashes into the house. And Robin Williams says, ‘We’ll take it. That will never happen again.’”
For Wood, that scene perfectly described the Lions’ 2024 injury nightmare—and his hope that the worst is behind them.
“I hope that’s what our injury year was,” he said. “We had the plane crash, and we’re not gonna have that problem again.”
Ready for 2025
Despite leading the NFL in players sent to injured reserve, the Lions still secured the NFC North title and fought their way to the NFC Championship Game. Their roster remains one of the most well-rounded in the league.
But if they can stay healthy in 2025?
Watch out.