The Detroit Lions have had a successful 2024 campaign, as Dan Campbell’s squad is 13-2 and atop the NFC North due to holding the head-to-head advantage over the Minnesota Vikings , who are also 13-2 and lost to Detroit in Week 7. The Lions will travel to Levi’s Stadium to square off against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football in Week 17.
Though the Lions boast one of the deepest rosters in the league, the team has been ravaged by injuries, especially at linebacker. The most crushing injury at the position occurred in Week 11 when team captain Alex Anzalone suffered a broken forearm and was ruled out for six to eight weeks by Dan Campbell.
After Anzalone’s injury, general manager Brad Holmes signed linebacker David Long Jr. to the practice squad on Nov.18 for extra depth at the position. Long Jr. spent the first eight games of the season with the Miami Dolphins before being waived by the team on Nov.13…