The Detroit Lions have had several injuries test their depth, and the hits kept coming for the defense following the team’s win over the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving.

In addition to the news of linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez suffering a torn ACL that will sideline him for the remainder of the season, Detroit will also be without defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo for the rest of the year.

Wingo totaled nine tackles in 11 games as a rookie, as the Lions drafted him in the sixth round of the 2024 Draft.

“Wingo’s gonna be out, he’ll be done for the season,” Campbell said. “His will probably require surgery, so that’s another one. Hate that for him, but I think everything will be clean, and he’ll be healed up for next year and that’s good news.”

Rodriguez’s injury is the latest to hit a linebacking corps that has been depleted for depth, as they have lost Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes and Jalen Reeves-Maybin prior to losing the third-year Oklahoma State product.

“Hate it for Malcolm. He was playing so dang good for us, he’s been a staple for us defensively, especially with the injuries,” Campbell said. “Even before that, he was playing for us, not like he wasn’t really a spot starter anyway, and then took over that role with the injuries. Special teams guy for us. It’s another one, we hate to lose him. It’s hard. The good news is once he has this done, he’ll be good to go next year and he’ll be healthy and ready to roll.

Other injuries sustained in Thursday’s game included defensive end Josh Paschal and defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike, both of whom left the game in the first half. Paschal was diagnosed with a knee injury, while Onwuzurike had a hamstring injury.

Campbell diagnosed both players as day-to-day, but was not optimistic on either’s chances of playing on Thursday against the Green Bay Packers.

MORE: Lions Can Still Achieve Huge Goals Despite Myriad of Injuries

Emmanuel Moseley, who was ruled inactive prior to the game against the Bears after a pregame injury, is expected to be good moving forward.

“Paschal, it’s hard to say. These guys, he and Levi, are day-to-day. I think Paschal’s got a better shot than Levi, but I’m not real optimistic about either one of them playing,” Campbell said. “Pashchal’s got a better shot. E-man, I think, is gonna be good to go.”

The Lions held Moseley out on a precautionary basis, but anticipate him helping in the future. He could get an opportunity on Thursday, as Carlton Davis is considered day-to-day ahead of the Packers game. Davis missed the Thanksgiving game with injuries to his knee and thumb.

“Had a little something that flared up on him and didn’t feel right,” Campbell said of Moseley. “Just knowing what we were gonna ask him to do, we didn’t want to take that risk of him trying to open up. But it looks like he’s gonna be just fine.”

Associated Press

Detroit Mercy Titans (3-5) at Eastern Michigan Eagles (5-2)

Ypsilanti, Michigan; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Eagles -6.5; over/under is 133.5

BOTTOM LINE: Detroit Mercy takes on Eastern Michigan after Orlando Lovejoy scored 28 points in Detroit Mercy’s 81-75 loss to the Rhode Island Rams.

The Eagles have gone 1-0 in home games. Eastern Michigan has a 1-1 record in games decided by 10 points or more.

The Titans have gone 1-2 away from home. Detroit Mercy is seventh in the Horizon League scoring 69.1 points per game and is shooting 40.5%.

Eastern Michigan is shooting 43.5% from the field this season, 1.7 percentage points higher than the 41.8% Detroit Mercy allows to opponents. Detroit Mercy averages 5.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.5 fewer makes per game than Eastern Michigan gives up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jalen Terry averages 2.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Eagles, scoring 15.9 points while shooting 39.1% from beyond the arc.

Lovejoy is scoring 13.5 points per game and averaging 4.8 rebounds for the Titans.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Here is a collection of quotes from the Detroit Lions players and coaches, via the team’s social media channel, following their 23-20 win over the Chicago Bears at Ford Field.

Dan Campbell

On the emotions of winning a close game:

“Look, I told the team, that’s what I said. You know, if you’re not careful, you start grading your own wins, and it’s good because you have these standards—the way you think you should play, by your own standards, by what you have. Has nothing to do with the opponent, it’s just you know yourselves, and you know what you’re capable of. And so, if you’re not careful, you start going too far down that thing. Then you start taking wins for granted. Ultimately, that’s a good win against an opponent that has fought every week, and this was the third game in a row, division game, that those guys have brought it over there. So we did what we had to do to win. We’ll clean up the other stuff that cost us some points. I’m not worried about that. But I will take this “W” and I’m not going to lose sleep over it.”

Jared Goff

On players stepping up on defense despite injuries:

“Yeah, it’s fun to see that. Obviously, Za’Darius (Smith) is a new addition to our team, but (Al-Quadin) Muhammad’s been doing a good job since he got here – on defense, on scout team making it hard on us, then obviously in the games now, he’s doing a great job. It’s fun to see guys step up, it’s never fun to see guys get hurt or get injured or have to leave the game – but when guys are able to step up and make those plays and make a name for themselves on national television, it’s fun.”

David Montgomery

On beating his former team:

“It’s always good being able to get a win on somebody that didn’t think I was good enough. I love, I appreciate Chicago for taking a chance on me, for giving me a shot and an opportunity. I was happy to get that win.” 

On being introduced with Jahmyr Gibbs during pregame introductions:

“It’s super cool. I’ve never experienced nothing like it. Jahmyr’s my little brother, I’m super blessed to have him in my life as a football player, but as a human for me too. So being able to share that moment and that experience with him, and kind of how the Sonic and Knuckles thing is going, it’s pretty dope to be a part of.” 

Jahmyr Gibbs

On breaking the Thanksgiving losing streak and it’s importance:

“Yeah, definitely. What was it, eight years? Seven. It was a long time. It was about time it’d get broke.” 

What the 11-1 start says about the team:

“That we can go really far and we’ve just got to stay on the details, stay hungry, don’t get complacent and keep going.” 

Jameson Williams

On the team getting its 10th straight win: 

“It’s big. We’re rolling. We’re rolling, we’re moving real well. I think that’s the main part. We’ve got a couple things to fix up for this win, even though it’s a win we’ve got a couple things to fix. We’re gonna fix those and we’re gonna be better. Just keep getting better and better and better every week.” 

Frank Ragnow

On how the team was able to win on a short week:

“I think we just have a good culture, good group of guys, good coaching staff and we find ways to win. Whether it’s ugly, close, blowout, we find ways to win. And that’s what a good team does.”

Penei Sewell

On if he feels more pressure when the Lions call a play for him:

“No, it’s really so fun. Every time I get a play, whether it’s like this or just out in front blocking, I just have fun with it. Those opportunities don’t come a lot and the trust that Ben (Johnson) and the whole offense has in me, I love it. I love when it’s on my shoulders and it’s fun.”

On what he learned from the Lions running ‘Mighty Duck,’ a play designed for him to throw a pass:

“I found out just how much energy the ball carriers use when they have the ball. After that play, I was really exhausted. I think the ball won’t touch my hands for a while.” 

MORE: Penei Sewell Destroying Bears Defender Becomes Classic Meme

Za’Darius Smith

On the team’s mentality: 

“Get extra work in after practice, you don’t get that everywhere you go with the young guys. So everybody’s keying in, buying in and I’m so excited about it. Obviously we’ve got coaches that played in the league, so man, everybody wants to know what it takes to win. As you can see, we’re 11-1 today.” 

On his 1.5 sack performance: 

“I missed him twice, I don’t know if y’all saw that or not. I missed him and then I told myself if I get another opportunity, I’m not gonna miss him this time. So I was able to come up with how many? 1.5, that’s something. I was still able to come back and make those tackles. So I learned from my mistakes early from that game.” 

Al-Quadin Muhammad

On his performance Thursday:

“It feels great, but it don’t mean nothing if when that opportunity comes, you don’t step up to the challenge. I was looking forward to the opportunity, and I went out and took advantage of it.”

On Za’Darius Smith’s performance despite being banged up:

“It’s football. Sometimes you get banged up, but that’s what we (traded for) him for. Just keep playing and stay relentless and shake it off. That’s the great thing about football.”