The Detroit Lions won big on Sunday but suffered a significant loss with Linebacker Alex Anzalone. Anzalone broke his forearm during the third quarter. The Lions beat down Jacksonville as if the Jags owed them money 52-6, but as much as the fans were cheering, they were also heartbroken that their “Thor” is out for 6-8 weeks. Can Detroit overcome the loss of Anzalone? How will the injury hurt the Lions’ defense? What does this mean for Detroit and their defense?
Alex Anzalone Out 6-8 Weeks
Defensive leader for the Detroit Lions, Alex Anzalone broke his forearm as they were spanking the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third quarter. The game was getting out of hand, but it may have been too early to take out the starters. Anzalone has been a team captain since joining the Lions in 2021 via free agency. He has been exactly what Brad Holmes, Dan Campbell, and Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn preach to their team. Anzalone is the definition of grit and embodies the heart of Detroit.
The Detroit Lions’ defense is not a stranger to injuries this season. It started when Defensive End Marcus Davenport was the victim of a torn triceps against the Arizona Cardinals that put him on the shelf for the rest of the season. In that same game, Linebacker Derrick Barnes also suffered an injury to his knee but he is expected to return sometime this season. Then while the Cowboys were getting cooked by the Lions, superstar Aidan Hutchinson broke his leg ending the potential Defensive Player of the Year’s season. This caused the team to acquire Za’Darius Smith from Cleveland at the trade deadline.
What’s Next For the Lions
If the Detroit Lions’ offense plays like they did on Sunday against the Jaguars, it doesn’t matter who is at linebacker for the Lions. Anzalone is the second leading tackler on the team with 51 only behind second-year player Jack Campbell (No relation to Dan). The Lions operate with a “next man up” mentality and it’s proven to work. The team is on an eight-game winning streak improving their record to 9-1. Even with the injuries it doesn’t seem to phase this well-oiled machine. Dan Campbell has this team prepared and fired up every week no matter who their opponent is.
The Lions showed resiliency last week after Jared Goff threw five interceptions and was down by double-digits at halftime against the Texans. The team has rallied since the Hutch injury and expect it to be no different with this. The addition of Smith should help with the pass rush. The linebacker crew of Jack Campbell, Malcolm Rodriguez, Trevor Nowaske, and Ben Niemann will be asked to step up to fill the void. Expect the Lions to also promote a linebacker off of the practice squad or look for one on the Waiver Wire. Brad Holmes has cooked since he got to Detroit and will handle this situation with the full support of the Lions faithful.
Games Anzalone Will Miss
11/24 @ Colts
11/28 vs Bears (Gobble, Gobble)
12/5 vs Packers
12/15 vs Bills
12/22 @ Bears
12/30 @ 49ers
1/5 vs Vikings
This will take the Lions without Anzalone into the playoffs.
Final Thoughts
Alex Anzalone is a tackling machine for these gritty Lions. Both he and Hutch were injured in blowout games. So, I guess Detroit has to stop beating teams out so easily. This is the best team in the NFL, and with so much depth and a next-man-up mentality, they have proof. The offense looked unstoppable this week after playing a subpar game against Houston. Never in my lifetime have I seen a Detroit Lions team this good and have the ability to find ways to win. Get healthy soon, Thor, and keep on chanting, “Jared Goff!”
