October 07, 2016
With the Philadelphia Eagles coming off their super-early bye week, the Birds enter their Week 5 game in Detroit against the Lions with just one injury to report. The Lions, on the other hand, come into this matchup very banged up.
"Good morning," said Doug Pederson to begin his Wednesday press conference. "Just want to update you on injuries. We don't have any, so that's a great thing going into this football game."
Pederson forgot to knock on wood, because the next day Bennie Logan injured his calf in practice.
• DT Bennie Logan (calf): The Eagles drafted Logan to be a two-gapping, block-eating nose tackle, but he has played well so far this season in his new role as a penetrating defensive tackle. If Logan can't go, star fullback Beau Allen would likely get the start next to Fletcher Cox at DT.
None.
• DE Ezekiel Ansah (ankle): Last season, in the Eagles-Lions Thanksgiving massacre, Ansah terrorized Dennis Kelly and the Eagles' offense all game long, with Ansah collecting 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Ansah is arguably the Lions' best player.
• LB DeAndre Levy (knee/quad): Levy was a great player for the Lions in 2013 (when he had six INTs) and 2014 (when he had 151 tackles), but he played just one game in 2015 and one so far in 2016.
• TE Eric Ebron (ankle/knee): Ebron is seventh among NFL tight ends with 210 receiving yards so far this season, and the Lions' second most productive option in the passing game behind Marvin Jones.
• RB Dwayne Washington (ankle): The Lions are already without RB Ameer Abdullah, who was placed on injured reserve. Washington has 18 carries for 76 yards (4.2 YPC) and one TD. He was a seventh round pick of the Lions this offseason.
• WR Marvin Jones (foot): Jones has had a great season so far, as he has 23 catches for 482 yards and 2 TDs. That puts him on pace for 92-1928-8. Jones has just 6 fewer receiving yards than the NFL leader, Julio Jones, who went off for 300 (!) receiving yards last Sunday against the Panthers.
• S Tavon Wilson (neck): Wilson is a starting safety for the Lions. He has 14 tackles and one tackle for loss in 2016.
• S Don Carey (ribs): Carey is a backup safety. He has three tackles and a forced fumble so far in 2016.
• RB Ameer Abdullah (foot): Abdullah is likley done for the season with a torn ligament in his foot. He was the Lions' starting running back.
• LB Jon Bostic (leg): The Lions traded for Bostic this offseason, and then he was injured during joint practices with the Steelers in training camp.
• TE Brandon Pettigrew (ACL): Pettigrew is the Lions' best blocking tight end. He's out for the season.
• TE Tim Wright (ACL): Wright is a quality pass-catching tight end. With Ebron, Pettigrew, and Wright all out, the Lions are severely under-manned at tight end.
• DE Wallace Gilberry (abdomen): The veteran backup Gilberry is out for the season. The Lions could have used him with Ansah out.
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