The Detroit Lions enter the 2024 regular season in really good shape on the injury front. Several key players who were idled at times during the summer, from RB Jahmyr Gibbs and TE Sam LaPorta to CB Terrion Arnold and DT DJ Reader, are at full speed and ready to roll into Detroit’s Week 1 matchup with the visiting Los Angeles Rams.
There is only one player on the 53-man roster who isn’t expected to be fully ready for Week 1. That would be reserve safety Ifeatu Melifonwu. Head coach Dan Campbell indicated that Melifonwu’s injury, suffered in the second preseason game, could keep Melifonwu out a little longer.
“Yeah, Iffy will be the only one right now who’s still not sure, still not sure on him. We’re going to try to get him moving around a little bit today and tomorrow and see where he’s at,” Campbell stated on Labor Day.
The oft-injured Melifonwu has missed 17 of a possible 51 regular season games in his first three seasons, dealing with a variety of injuries. The team has not officially stated the latest injury, but there have been indications Melifonwu is dealing with a heel/ankle injury suffered in Detroit’s second preseason game.
“Yeah, it’s really something that’s just been lingering, even before that. It’s slow moving, that’s all. It’s slow healing and take it as it comes,” Campbell added about the injury.
Melifonwu is expected to play in defensive sub-packages, with Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph being the primary two safeties who will play in Aaron Glenn’s man-coverage defense.
