Detroit Lions standout wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was removed from the team’s Thanksgiving matchup against the Green Bay Packers after suffering what appeared to be a painful ankle injury early in the game.

The injury occurred with just over six minutes left in the opening quarter. While blocking on a running play, St. Brown had his legs taken out inadvertently when two of Detroit’s offensive linemen fell backward into him. FOX reporter Erin Andrews initially noted he was questionable to return, but he was officially ruled out shortly afterward.

Fresh footage from the play shows St. Brown’s left ankle trapped beneath center Trystan Colon and guard Kayode Awosika—each weighing more than 315 pounds. He managed to free his right leg but not the left, which absorbed the full impact.

St. Brown collapsed immediately, clutching his ankle, but was able to hobble off the field without assistance before heading straight to the locker room.

Sports injury analyst Dr. Jesse Morse, known for breaking down NFL health updates on X, offered his early assessment shortly after the play.
He wrote: “Right knee + left ankle after being rolled up from behind.”

He later expanded on his diagnosis, suggesting St. Brown likely suffered a high-ankle sprain on the left side as well as a sprain to the outside of the right knee, noting that the force of the collision appeared to stress the LCL and surrounding structures.

According to Morse, even if St. Brown attempted to return, the combination of ankle instability and knee discomfort would likely limit his ability to cut or explode laterally—critical traits for a receiver.

This injury could not come at a worse time for Detroit. St. Brown has been Jared Goff’s top target all year and one of the league’s most productive pass catchers. Entering the game, he had already totaled 75 catches, 884 yards, and nine touchdowns—numbers placing him among the NFL’s leaders in multiple categories.

The Lions’ fight for a playoff spot could be seriously impacted if St. Brown misses extended time. Detroit came into Thanksgiving at 7–4, trailing both the Packers and the Bears in the NFC North and sitting outside the conference postseason field.

Adding to the challenge, Detroit recently lost Sam LaPorta for the remainder of the season due to a back injury, leaving Jameson Williams as the team’s likely top receiving weapon moving forward.

For St. Brown—a player who has missed only two regular-season games in his five-year career—this could mark his first significant stretch on the sidelines.