Detroit Lions' Jonah Jackson questionable, Alex Anzalone doubtful vs. Saints
The Detroit Lions could have their starting offensive line together Sunday against the New Orleans Saints for just the third time this season.
Left guard Jonah Jackson practiced in full Friday for the second straight day and is listed as questionable on the Lions' injury report.
Jackson had missed the past two games with a wrist injury he sustained in the Lions' Week 10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
"Any time certainly we can get him going that helps us," Lions coach Dan Campbell said before practice. "He’s a good player. And he only adds to that offensive line that’s been playing at a high level.”
THE NEW GUY: Bruce Irvin 'like a kid the night before Christmas' waiting for Lions debut
Jackson missed three games earlier this season with a high ankle sprain, one of five offensive linemen who've missed time with injuries this fall. Left tackle Taylor Decker missed two games with a high ankle sprain, center Frank Ragnow sat one week with calf strain, guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai is on injured reserve with back problems and swing tackle Matt Nelson is out for the season with a broken ankle.
The Lions (8-3) have started eight different offensive line combinations in their 11 games this year.
Campbell said Jackson's availability for Sunday will be determined by the "functionality" of his wrist.
"Just being able to use it and feel like you can produce," he said. "That’s all part of it."
Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone is not expected to play with a hand injury after missing practice all week. He was listed as doubtful on the injury report.
MUST LISTEN: Make "Carlos and Shawn" your go-to Detroit sports podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
"Obviously we lost Alex and, no, I'm not going to slight this like we didn’t lose anything, but to my opinion, I told the room, we should take a step up," linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard said. "It’s just the way I'm wired, the way I'm built, and to have Alex, 'Oh, wait a minute, I got to get back.' And then that’s when you create that environment where everybody’s doing this, versus everybody sitting back trying to hold your head saying I hope we get through this week until Alex gets back.'
MR. VERSATILITY: Malcolm Rodriguez ready for 2-way role vs. Saints: 'Welcome back to the defense'
"No, no, no, no, no. We're going to raise the level and put the pressure on Alex. You better hurry up and get back Anzo because these guys are about to ball."
Much respect
Saints defensive Cam Jordan has missed one game because of injury in his 13-year NFL career, but he did not practice all week and is questionable to play Sunday with an ankle injury.
Campbell, a one-time assistant with the Saints, called Jordan's durability "remarkable" and said he anticipates the 34-year-old pass rusher finds a way to make it to the field Sunday.
"The two things about him is he never gets hurt and he never gets tired. And that’s a rarity," Campbell said. "And to play as long as he has and play at the high level that he has – because there’s been a number of things where he has not felt great, and he always shows up to play. So, I’m anticipating him being out there until otherwise noted, but it’s a remarkable streak. I mean that’s rare in this league. It is rare. But look, I can’t say enough good things about Cam. He’s a hell of a player, he’s an energy bug for them, he’s a captain. And so, he’s an issue. He’s an issue for us."
FOR THE BLOCK: Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown: I have to block differently after excessive fine
Jordan has played 202 of a possible 204 games in his career. He had started 172 straight games before missing a game due to COVID protocols in 2021. Last year, Jordan missed his first game due to injury with a fractured orbital bone.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions' Jonah Jackson may return Sunday, Alex Anzalone doubtful
