The Detroit Lions are entering one of the most important stretches of their recent franchise history, but the team has been hit with yet another setback ahead of their primetime matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. After falling to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving, dropping to 7-5 on the season, Detroit’s playoff hopes remain alive but extremely fragile.

With the Packers and Chicago Bears currently ahead in the NFC North standings, the Lions face a steep climb — and winning out their remaining schedule is becoming a must.

Dan Campbell Reacts After Thanksgiving Loss

Following the loss to Green Bay, head coach Dan Campbell acknowledged the difficult situation but praised his team’s effort.

> “Things are a little different… sometimes you’ve got to go about things a little differently,” Campbell said.

“Those guys battled today. We did some good things in the run game and had pretty good protection on a lot of our play-pass stuff. We’ve just got to hit on more plays.”

Detroit now turns its attention to Thursday’s showdown with the Cowboys — but the injury situation took a troubling turn.

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Amon-Ra St. Brown Injury Raises Alarm Before Cowboys Game

Star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, the centerpiece of Detroit’s offense, was injured in the Packers game. His availability for Thursday is now in doubt after he did not practice on Monday, December 1.

St. Brown’s absence would be a massive blow for a Lions team that needs every offensive weapon available in a must-win situation.

More Injury Concerns for Detroit

Several other players were also limited or unavailable during Monday’s practice, including:

Kalif Raymond

Brock Wright

Meanwhile, rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold has officially been ruled out for the rest of the season, dealing another major blow to a secondary already struggling to find stability.

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Kerby Joseph Returns, but Issues Remain

There was at least some positive news: All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph returned to practice on Monday. However, his comments about his health weren’t exactly reassuring.

> “My knee’s messed up,” Joseph admitted.
When asked if it could be fixed, he responded: “You don’t fix it. Just keep the faith.”

Joseph, now the highest-paid safety in NFL history after signing a four-year, $86 million extension, is crucial for Detroit’s defense. He led the NFL with nine interceptions last season and earned First-Team All-Pro honors.

His health moving forward will play a key role in Detroit’s playoff push.

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Dan Campbell Stands Firm on Aggressive Play-Calling

Despite the mounting pressure, Campbell made it clear he has no plans to back away from his trademark aggression on fourth down.

> “Where the game’s at, the opponent, how your defense is playing — all of it matters,” he said.
“Going into it we liked those plays. So no, I wouldn’t say that’s going to change.”

Lions Face Pivotal Moment in Season

The Detroit Lions know what’s at stake. With multiple starters injured and the Cowboys looming on Thursday, Detroit must quickly regroup and hope key players like Amon-Ra St. Brown can return in time.

A win keeps their playoff dreams alive. Another setback could put their season on the brink.