As the Lions head into one of the biggest regular-season games in NFL history, the prospect of seeing key players back at work during the playoffs looms. Beyond the potential Aidan Hutchinson , David Montgomery and Carlton Davis returns, a key defender is already back at work.
On IR since suffering a broken forearm in November
, Alex Anzalone
is back at practice for the Lions. The 14-2 team listed the veteran linebacker as a limited participant. Anzalone had targeted a return before the playoffs, the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett notes
. This return designation puts a Week 18 comeback in play.
Injuries have hurt this loaded Lions team at many positions this season; no position has been hit harder than linebacker. Derrick Barnes has missed most of this season , and Malcolm Rodriguez suffered a torn ACL . Anzalone has missed the past seven games, leaving the team desperate at the position. Barnes joins Rodriguez on IR, but it looks like Anzalone will return soon.
Part of the Saints’ impact 2017 draft class, Anzalone worked as a part-time starter in New Orleans. While he made contributions on four straight playoff teams on his rookie contract, the former third-round pick has done his best work in Detroit. Anzalone played a central role in the Lions’ emergence. Following Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn from New Orleans, Anzalone has been a Lions starter for four years. He did well to earn a second contract with the team, a three-year deal worth $18.75MM , but this season brought a hurdle for the eighth-year defender.
Anzalone, 30, entered this season riding back-to-back 120-plus-tackle campaigns. Pro Football Focus has Anzalone slotted 37th among linebackers this season; he is poised to rejoin blossoming 2023 first-rounder Jack Campbell soon. The Lions will have three weeks to activate Anzalone. Despite the spate of injuries, the Lions are in good shape in terms of activations. Three regular-season moves remain , playoff teams — thanks to an offseason rule change — will have two more at their disposals.
Beating the Vikings on Sunday night would give the Lions a bye, providing extra rest for its batch of injured players. Hutchinson is in play to come back by the NFC championship game , while Davis’ timeline points to a down-the-road return as well . Montgomery avoided a season-ending MCL injury ; he joins Davis as players the Lions have opted to keep on their 53-man roster in hopes of returns during the postseason. If Anzalone looks good in practice this week, however, he figures to be part of the effort Detroit will use to secure that bye week.