The Detroit Lions are Super Bowl contenders—a clear and obvious statement as they sit at 11-1 and have won each of their last 10 games. That's music to the ears of Lions fans after decades of disappointment without sniffing a title, sitting as one of the few teams yet to reach the Super Bowl.
Injuries have marred the Lions' defense, though, most notably star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. Team captain and linebacker Alex Anzalone is out with a broken forearm until the end of the regular season, at least. The Lions recently lost another linebacker, Malcolm Rodriguez, for the season on Thanksgiving Day due to a torn ACL. Defensive backs Carlton Davis and Ennis Rakestraw Jr., safety Ifeatu Melifonwu and linebacker Derrick Barnes are just a handful of other defensive players the Lions have missed recently.
