Amon-Ra St. Brown to Miss Wednesday Practice
The Detroit Lions' injury report will be lengthy, ahead of their Week 3 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons.
With two players already placed on injured reserve this week, a number of players will sit out Wednesday's practice. Included in that group will be wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Dan Campbell revealed that the USC product is day-to-day with a toe injury and won't participate Wednesday. David Montgomery and Halapoulivaati Vaitai are among the others who suffered injuries last Sunday.
"He's day-to-day," Campbell said of St. Brown. "We'll see how it goes."
The configuration of the Lions' schedule puts them in a difficult situation. With a short turnaround, since the team plays on Thursday in Week 4, there's a time crunch for injured players to recover.
Campbell was mum on the situation this creates, stating the team is evaluating the best course of action to move through this tough stretch.
"I think more than anything, we have to focus on right now. The here and now," Campbell explained. "There are a couple guys who, it could be, if it's close enough, do you try to play them this week knowing that maybe if you do, then they're probably out for Green Bay anyway. So, there's a couple of those guys, I'm not gonna say who they are. That may have a little bit, but I think more than anything, it's about this one right in front of us and who we'll have available or who we think can be available."
Tracy Walker's impact
Tracy Walker's snap count has taken a hit with the presence of C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Kerby Joseph. With Gardner-Johnson suffering a potential season-ending injury, Walker will now be called upon once again.
"Having a guy like Tracy, someone who's got time on task, somebody we've got a lot of faith in, trust in, that alleviates a lot of pressure and stress for us," Campbell explained. "We know he's game ready, he's been in it. He hasn't batted one eye at it, he just goes to work. He does anything we ask him to do, he's been playing special teams, been playing for us a little bit here. So certainly, he's taking on a big role now. So, we have a ton of faith in Tracy."
The sixth-year pro has started plenty of games, but has played minimally early this season. He's recently recovered fully from a torn Achilles suffered last year, and will be counted on to be productive moving forward.
"Losing a guy like C.J.'s gonna hurt anytime. He's an impactful player, and his energy is infectious," Campbell stated. "I hate it for him. I hate it for him, I hate it for us. But, look, this train doesn't stop. With that, I think him being around has definitely made guys better, those around him better. There again, just goes back to the injury question, we're fortunate we have Tracy, and he'll be ready to roll. Now, that slack's gotta be picked up by the rest of the guys. It's gotta come from somewhere else. It doesn't have to come from one, it ought to come collectively."
Notes
1.) Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson will have surgery to repair his torn pec suffered in Sunday's loss. Campbell explained that the injury was described as "clean," meaning that the safety will be able to recover adequately.
As for whether the veteran could return this season, the coach said there's a chance he could. Without Gardner-Johnson's effort and energy in the secondary, there is a clear-cut void. Yet, Campbell expects the team to collectively fill it.
2.) The Lions are hoping that James Houston, who also went on injured reserve Tuesday, could also return late in the year.
