Dan Campbell Provides Key Injury Update on Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown Ahead of Bears Finale
The Detroit Lions will miss the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2023 after their 23–10 Christmas Day loss to the Minnesota Vikings, officially eliminating them from postseason contention.
While the Lions have nothing at stake beyond pride in Week 18, Pro Bowl wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is pushing to play despite suffering a knee injury late in the loss to Minnesota.
St. Brown was injured after taking a hit from Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy, immediately favoring his right knee before exiting the game. He did not speak with reporters afterward.
During his Monday media session, Lions head coach Dan Campbell shared an encouraging update on St. Brown’s condition ahead of Detroit’s matchup against the Chicago Bears and former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
“Yeah, I think long-term he’s going to be okay, which is good. That’s good news,” Campbell said.
Lions Would Sit Amon-Ra St. Brown If There Were Long-Term Injury Risks
Campbell made it clear that the Lions will not put St. Brown on the field if there is any concern about long-term damage, regardless of the player’s desire to compete.
“If we think they’re setting themselves up for long-term risk, then no, it’s not worth it,” Campbell explained.
“But if it’s bumps and bruises, then it’s the next game up.”
Campbell officially labeled St. Brown as day-to-day, noting steady improvement.
“Day-to-day, yeah. He wants to go and he’s improved,” Campbell said.
Amon-Ra St. Brown’s 2025 Season Stats
Despite Detroit’s disappointing finish, St. Brown delivered another elite season, earning his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl selection.
2025 Regular Season Stats:
Receptions: 106
Receiving Yards: 1,262
Touchdowns: 11
The Lions can finish no better than 9–8, a sharp contrast from their 15-win campaign in 2024.
Dan Campbell: Lions Can Still Learn From Final Game vs. Bears
Although the finale carries no playoff implications, Campbell believes the matchup offers a valuable evaluation opportunity for the roster.
“You can always find a lot out with one game to go,” Campbell said.
“How players handle pressure, how they play with nothing to play for—it’s a little bit of everything.”
Detroit will face Chicago at Soldier Field, with kickoff scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday.
NFC North Implications
Regardless of the outcome, the Chicago Bears will celebrate winning the NFC North for the first time since 2018, ending Detroit’s two-year reign atop the division.
