Injuries could decide this Sunday Night Football showdown—and some names on this list might shock you. The Detroit Lions (4-1) and Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) have released their official injury designations heading into their highly anticipated Week 6 duel, and while both teams are battling fitness concerns, the Lions appear set for some last-minute calls that could swing the outcome.
Here’s the full scope of the latest injury report, with any updates from the previous listing clearly noted.
Ruled OUT
- RB Sione Vaki (groin)
- DT Alim McNeill (ACL — still on PUP list, 11 days remaining on evaluation window)
- LB Zach Cunningham (hamstring)
- CB Terrion Arnold (shoulder)
Vaki and Cunningham will be sidelined for a third consecutive week due to recurring soft tissue problems. The silver lining? Neither has been placed on injured reserve, hinting at a possible practice return soon. However, with a bye coming in Week 8, the team might opt to hold them back until after the break.
McNeill stays on Reserve/PUP for at least one more week. According to Detroit insider Justin Rogers, the plan is to activate him ahead of Week 7 against the Buccaneers. Lions coach Dan Campbell stressed a cautious approach, targeting around 20-25 snaps in his return to ensure long-term readiness.
Arnold’s absence was expected; the real mystery lies in exactly how much time he will miss.
Questionable
- WR Kalif Raymond (neck)
- LT Taylor Decker (shoulder)
- OT Giovanni Manu (knee)
- DB Avonte Maddox (hamstring)
- DB Brian Branch (ankle)
- S Kerby Joseph (knee)
Raymond returned to practice Thursday after missing Wednesday, giving him a shot to play Sunday. Neck issues often invite caution, so his status remains fragile.
Decker insists he’s feeling better, but with zero practices this week, the odds are against him suiting up. That said, he has a history of playing without practice reps, so don’t count him out entirely.
Manu emerged on the injury list Thursday and missed Friday’s practice. His role could become crucial if Decker is out, unless Dan Skipper moves ahead of him in the lineup.
Branch, Joseph, and Maddox are all tagged as true game-time decisions. Losing any of them would significantly affect Detroit’s secondary. Branch participated in limited sessions before undergoing an MRI Thursday and skipping Friday practice. Campbell sounded cautiously optimistic, suggesting he "feels" Branch will make it to game day—though no promises.
Joseph is known for playing after missing multiple practices, yet unlike past instances, he didn’t step on the field at all this week. That could be a red flag.
Maddox joined the injury report Thursday, which is typically bad news. Still, Campbell didn’t rule him out, grouping him with the other borderline cases.
Cleared to Play
- WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (wrist)
After resting Wednesday, St. Brown returned Thursday and Friday, ready to lead the offense. He says the wrist has been a minor annoyance, using Wednesday simply to refresh and recover.
Kansas City Chiefs Injury Designations
No starters have an injury designation heading into this matchup. That means:
- QB Patrick Mahomes (groin)
- RB Kareem Hunt (calf)
- WR Xavier Worthy (shoulder/ankle)
- WR Hollywood Brown (ankle)
- WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee)
- RT Jawaan Taylor (knee)
- DT Omarr Norman-Lott (shoulder)
- DE Charles Omenihu (ankle)
- LB Nick Bolton (calf)
- LB Jeffrey Bassa (knee)
- CB Kristian Fulton (ankle)
So here’s the big question for fans: With the Lions facing multiple key players as game-time decisions and the Chiefs essentially entering at full starter strength, will this injury disparity tilt the balance of Sunday’s prime-time clash? Or can Detroit’s depth rise to the challenge? Drop your take in the comments—is this game already decided by the injury report, or is that just overblown narrative?
