NEW YORK -- The injury plague that has bounced around the NFL this season is starting to show up more and more in Detroit and it seems to be beyond just the nicks and bruises of a game.
The Detroit Lions listed 13 of their 53 players -- 24.5 percent -- on the Friday injury report prior to Sunday's 24-17 win against the Jets. And that doesn't include the three defensive players on injured reserve (Stephen Tulloch, Nevin Lawson and Bill Bentley), the one player on the physically unable to perform list (TJ Jones) and another in the injured reserve/designated to return spot (Kyle Van Noy).
It is a report that may remain crowded this week, although the injury bugaboo appears to have transferred from the secondary to the running backs. As the Lions got James Ihedigbo back and got through a game without losing a defensive back, three running backs left the game due to injury and didn't return. Joique Bell had a head injury and possible concussion. Theo Riddick and Montell Owens, both of whom had hamstring issues during the week, couldn't finish due to hamstring issues.
That left Reggie Bush and Jed Collins as the team's only healthy running backs. So like cornerback, safety and linebacker before, don't be surprised if the Lions investigate some runners this week depending on the health status of those three.
This doesn't even go into the ankle injuries to Calvin Johnson and Joseph Fauria or the bumps and bruises MLive reported quarterback Matthew Stafford had Sunday after the game.
So while Detroit is 3-1 and one game up on the rest of the NFC North, the Lions have a bunch of injury issues to a lot of key players. While they've been able to deal with it so far -- Tahir Whitehead appeared to play well in place of Tulloch -- at some point if the injuries continue to build, there are going to have to be tough decisions made.
And now a look around the Interwebs in search of Lions news:
Golden Tate proved he can be the Lions primary receiver if they need him to be. James Ihedigbo had a good debut for Detroit. Calvin Johnson's ankle is a concern. Saturday's Game Balls. Eric Ebron happy about his touchdown. Rapid reaction from Detroit's win.
Ndamukong Suh might be preparing to leave Detroit. How the Lions would move on without him. This week's Lions Mailbag.
As Matthew Stafford's profile grows, the quarterback is trying to hold on to his personal privacy.
Golden Tate stood out on Sunday, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News grades the Lions.
A new wrinkle helped the Lions on Sunday, writes Kyle Meinke of MLive.
