The Detroit Lions received a major scare in Week 13 when Amon-Ra St. Brown went down with an ankle injury and didn’t return. To make matters worse, Detroit went on to lose the game. Afterward, head coach Dan Campbell explained that the star receiver might be sidelined for a week or two — “if we’re lucky,” as he put it.

Amon-Ra St. Brown Injury Update

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero later reported that St. Brown suffered a low-ankle sprain. While still concerning, this was a far better diagnosis than a high-ankle sprain, which could have cost him more than a month. For now, St. Brown is considered week-to-week, and the team doesn’t expect to place him on injured reserve.

Pelissero added that early evaluations suggest St. Brown has a realistic chance to return relatively soon. Detroit’s next official update should come no later than Monday, when they release their first Week 14 injury report ahead of their matchup with the Cowboys.

Why St. Brown’s Injury Is So Significant

St. Brown has been the Lions’ most reliable and productive receiving threat for multiple seasons, consistently acting as the engine of Detroit’s passing game. Jameson Williams has grown into a solid second option since 2024, but his streaky play makes it difficult to rely on him as a temporary No. 1 if St. Brown is forced to sit.

Depth is also a serious concern for Detroit. Sam LaPorta’s back injury threatens to end his season, Kalif Raymond missed Week 13 with an ankle issue, and rookie Isaac TeSlaa is still largely untested. Removing St. Brown from that group would leave the Lions extremely thin at the skill positions, and it would put even more strain on an offense already struggling for consistency.

If he can’t go in Week 14, the Lions’ path to the postseason becomes even more complicated. St. Brown has built a reputation as one of the toughest players in the NFL, so Detroit will hope he finds a way back onto the field quickly. But if he doesn’t, the offense will feel the effects immediately — and the team’s playoff chances could take yet another hit.

A Super Bowl Push Suddenly in Jeopardy

Unlike last season, the Lions aren’t comfortably in the playoff picture. Heading into Week 14, they sit eighth in the NFC and outside the wild-card spots. They’re also third in the NFC North and three games behind the division-leading Bears when tiebreakers are factored in.

Detroit can’t afford more setbacks at this point in the season. With a difficult climb ahead, losing St. Brown — even briefly — could make a challenging situation even harder.