The Lions overcame a slew of injuries to their front-7 to beat a tough division opponent and maintain their hold on the #1 seed. Entering the game, the Lions had already lost defensive linemen DJ Reader, Levi Onwuzurike, Josh Paschal, and Mekhi Wingo from the previous game.
When Alim McNeill did not return in the second half, the defensive line was almost unrecognizable even to hard-core Lions fans. The only player remaining that could be considered a starter was Za’Darius Smith who the Lions traded for just four weeks ago.
Thankfully, this game resulted in far fewer injury concerns than last week. The main mystery is Alim McNeill who has an unspecified head injury without a current concussion diagnosis. Based on a couple other incidents over the past year, it could be a recurring jaw issue.
Here are the injuries I saw on my initial look along with suspected diagnoses:
Amon-Ra St. Brown – left back contusion 1q 14:06
After a reception, Saint got up reaching for his left back. It looked like he took a face mask to that area. He made a reception on the very next play and seemed fine the rest of the game. No concerns here.
Amon-Ra St. Brown L back injury video
-No concerns here. Probably just takes a face mask to the back.
-Caught a pass next play and looked good rest of game. pic.twitter.com/pEtZ4RJImn— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) December 6, 2024
Alim McNeill – recurrent TMJ? 1q 7:49
McNeill stayed down after the play and was taken to the locker room. Video was obscured but it didn’t appear that he took any major blows to the head. It’s possible he took a mild hit to the back of the head which even when mild, can still cause a concussion. The previous plays on the drive looked benign.
He passed the concussion evaluation and returned to play in the first half. However, he was ruled out at halftime officially with a “head” injury, and not a concussion.
While a delayed concussion diagnosis is still possible, McNeill has had a history of visible TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain and a recurrence could explain the “head” designation.
The issue may have started or been aggravated on November 23, 2023 when he took a hard helmet blow to the right jaw area and stayed down for a while. He was not diagnosed with a concussion. This hard hit could have caused underlying damage to his TMJ.
On November 10, 2024, he was clearly having jaw pain and was pointing to his right TMJ.
We’ll see if we get any more clarity on his injury next week.
Here is the video timeline of his injuries:
Alim McNeill R jaw injury videos
-Suspicion for chronic TMJ. Nerve pain, other things also possible.
-11/23/23: Hard hit to R jaw. Down for a while. No concussion diagnosis.
-11/10/24: Definite R TMJ symptoms
-12/5/24: Officially “head” injury, not concussion. Jaw/TMJ again? pic.twitter.com/CyBjmCYunX— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) December 6, 2024
Kevin Zeitler – left eye irritation 1q 2:34
Zeitler pulled himself out while pointing at his left eye. Maybe he got some rubber pellets in there. He returned the next drive and looked fine. No concerns.
Kevin Zeitler L eye injury video
-Pointing at eye. Maybe got some pellets in there.
-Returned next drive and looked fine. No concerns. pic.twitter.com/XiM2XmHP9E— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) December 6, 2024
Brian Branch – right hip or oblique 3q 12:04, left calf cramps 4q 6:12
Branch reached for his right hip area after making a tackle. A strain of his oblique or upper leg are possible. A hip pointer could cause pain in that area but he didn’t appear to suffer a direct blow to that location. He stayed in the game and looked to be fine.
In the 4th quarter, he was officially reported to be having calf cramps. He left at the six minute mark and did not return, although there were only a few plays remaining. Hopefully, cramps is accurate and there is no underlying calf strain. I’m expecting him to be fine for next game.
Brian Branch injury videos
-Possible R oblique strain or hip area strain. Didn’t see hip pointer. Stayed in and looked fine.
-Late in 4th, left with reported cramps. Assuming no calf strain, should be good. pic.twitter.com/PbDQOq3QNv— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) December 6, 2024
Kerby Joseph – left arm, 4q 5:00
Joseph appeared to get his arm pulled at the end of this play. He may have suffered a mild elbow or shoulder sprain. He stayed in and looked to be doing fine. No significant concerns here.
Kerby Joseph L arm injury video
-May have had arm trapped and pulled on.
-Finished game and looked fine.
-Hope mild sprain of elbow or shoulder. No sig concerns. pic.twitter.com/bvgz4nCVrD— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) December 6, 2024
