DETROIT – The Detroit Lions provided injury updates on four key players ahead of the Cowboys game, including two who have been on injured reserve for months.
CJ Gardner-Johnson
The player everyone wants to see back on the field is star safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, the team’s top offseason signing. He injured his pectoral muscle in the second game of the season and hasn’t played since.
Head coach Dan Campbell was asked about Gardner-Johnson on Thursday.
“He’s even better than last week,” Campbell said. “He’s looking pretty good, and it’s just another chance to get him going. Brad (Holmes) and I will talk about it after we get done today. He’ll be out there practicing again.”
Gardner-Johnson’s 21-day practice window was opened last week before the Vikings game, but once again, he will not play for the Lions this weekend. A few hours after Campbell’s press conference, the Lions listed Gardner-Johnson as “out” for Saturday.
The Lions will stick with Ifeatu Melifonwu and Kerby Joseph in the secondary until Gardner-Johnson returns.
“When he comes back, we’ve got options,” Campbell said. “We’ve got really good options. We’ve got football players, playmakers, so it’s a great problem to have.”
Taylor Decker
The outlook on starting left tackle Taylor Decker is much more promising.
Decker was held out of Wednesday’s practice due to a groin issue, but Campbell said the team was just being cautious, and he should be good to go on Saturday.
“He’s good,” Campbell said. “He’ll be good. He’ll be out there. We were just being smart with him.”
James Houston
Like Gardner-Johnson, James Houston has been on injured reserve since the Seahawks game, and on Thursday, the Lions announced that they have opened his 21-day practice window.
Houston was a revelation in the second half of last season, picking up eight sacks in the team’s final seven games. If he can get back into playing shape by the end of the season, he’ll be a much-needed addition to the pass rush.
“I got to do what I got to do on my part so I can be a part of something special,” Houston said, via DetroitLions.com. “I’m extremely excited and ready to get back on the field.”
Houston is out for Saturday’s game in Dallas, but it’s possible he could return in time to help the Lions during the postseason.
Cam Sutton
Cam Sutton was a surprise addition to the final injury report of the week on Thursday, as the Lions are calling him “questionable” with a toe injury.
The severity of his injury is unclear, but the Lions can’t afford to play without their top cornerback, especially with Gardner-Johnson and Emmanuel Moseley unavailable for the secondary and Jerry Jacobs’ role in limbo.
Dallas has one of the top passing attacks in the league, led by quarterback Dak Prescott and superstar wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. If Sutton isn’t at full strength, upsetting the Cowboys on the road will be a tall task.