Updates on Several Detroit Lions Injuries After Week 5

Saivion Smith

Saivion Smith made his first start for The Detroit Lions following the benching of Amani Oruwariye, and went down with a scary non-contact injury on the opening drive on defense. The cornerback fell to the ground without movement and had to be removed from the game in an ambulance. Initial speculations thought it to be a neck injury, later it was confirmed that was not the case. Fortunately, Smith was later discharged from the hospital and traveled home with the team according to reports. Smith was diagnosed with a concussion, and will enter concussion protocol. The team hopes to get him back on the field week seven against The Dallas Cowboys.

Deshon Elliot and Jeff Okudah

The Lions suffered a plethora of injuries to their secondary on Sunday, including starters Deshon Elliot and Jeff Okudah. Elliot went down with cramps while Okudah went out of the game with an undisclosed injury. Both players returned to the game Sunday, and will have enough time during the bye week to be 100% against The Dallas Cowboys.

Josh Paschal and Jameson Williams

The Lions’ 12th and 44th overall picks from the 2022 NFL Draft have yet to play a snap during the NFL season. Paschal has been out after requiring surgery to repair a sports hernia, but returned to practice last week as a part of his 21 day evaluation period, post injury. Paschal has progressed well, and it is a real possibility he plays as soon as week seven. Williams on the other hand is a different story. After suffering an ACL injury in the College Football Playoffs, Williams has been on the sidelines since. The Lions knew that Williams would miss a significant portion of the season, eyeing a debut sometime in November. Coach Dan Campbell has said that Williams has been progressing well, but is still “still looking at a while.” Expect Williams to return late-October to November at the earliest.

D’Andre Swift

D’andre Swift has been sidelined with a shoulder injury that he sustained week three in Minnesota. Having not played at all in the past two weeks, it is clear that the team had been waiting for a Swift return until after the bye week. With Jamaal Williams taking the lead back role, there hadn’t been significant urgency to get him back onto the field. The Lions hope to bring him back week seven against a stout Dallas Cowboys defense.