Three and Out: Aaron Glenn vs. attrition and viewing dreaded replay through fresh eyes
Here are three observations after a second viewing and a night to ponder the Detroit Lions’ 23-20 win over the Chicago Bears.
Glenn vs. attrition
OK, the injury situation on defense is getting ridiculous. Let’s recap, just to have it all in front of us.
On injured reserve: Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Derrick Barnes, Alex Anzalone, Kyle Peko, John Cominsky, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Ennis Rakestraw
Ruled out this week: Carlton Davis III
Injured in pre-game warmups: Emmanuel Moseley
Lost to injury during the game: Josh Paschal, Levi Onwuzurike, Malcolm Rodriguez
That’s up to six projected starters, plus several key reserves. It's left the Lions to dig deep for replacements. Against the Bears on Sunday, the team’s No. 4 and No. 5 cornerbacks entering the year, Kindle Vildor and Khalil Dorsey, rotated at one of the starting spots. Linebackers Ezekiel Turner and David Long, who weren’t on the roster a month ago, combined for 34 snaps, just shy of the 31 played by Trevor Nowaske, who hadn't logged a single rep as an undrafted rookie last year. And up front, another mid-season addition, Al-Quadin Muhammad, played 43.
Like we said, it’s all kind of ridiculous. And before anyone starts in on a cliched rant about Detroit’s training staff needing to be investigated by the F.B.I., consider the randomness of most of those injuries. No training staff is responsible for Hutchinson’s leg snapping, Anzalone’s arm getting crushed, Barnes taking a helmet directly to his knee, Davenport’s elbow getting chopped or Davis’ cleat getting stuck in the turf. The strained joints/muscles on that list are normal by professional football standards, the Lions have just had some bad luck.
Yet through it all, Detroit has remained one of the top defenses in the NFL. That might be the most ridiculous aspect of this ridiculous situation.