Jonah Jackson injury news: Lions OL out for NFC title game, could return for Super Bowl
Jonah Jackson will not play in Sunday's NFC championship game against the San Francisco 49ers, but Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said the Lions could have their starting left guard back in the lineup if they make it to the Super Bowl.
"I think the timeline could be there, it’s just a matter of how fast this thing heals and what it feels like," Campbell said. "I think there’s a possibility, but we’ll see."
Jackson left in the first half of Sunday's divisional playoff win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after he appeared to tweak his knee while blocking on a David Montgomery run. He turned to the bench and waved for a replacement immediately after the play, then limped off the field and went straight to the locker room.
ESPN reported Monday that Jackson underwent surgery for a "slight" meniscus tear.
Lions center Frank Ragnow underwent a surgery for a similar injury in December and missed one game.
With Jackson out this week, Campbell said Kayode Awosika will start at left guard against the 49ers. The Lions went 7-1 in the regular season when they had their regular starting offensive line on the field, and 5-4 when they were forced to start a backup.
More: Why Detroit Lions' Frank Ragnow won't succumb to injury: 'It was tough, but it was worth it'
Awosika played 46 of a possible 73 offensive snaps against the Bucs and received high marks for his play from Campbell. He started three games this season, wins over the Buccaneers and Las Vegas Raiders in December, and a loss to the Chicago Bears in December.
"We’ve had a number of those guys that have played for us and banked a lot of reps," Campbell said. "Yode gets to go in and he did some good things for us. And he’s played, though. He’s played quite a bit for us. He played for us last year and now he goes in this game and he’s going to be able to get a, you’re the starter, you’re getting all the reps. You’re preparing with the rest of those guys in there, so that’ll be good for him. But it is big. That’s why you have depth, that’s why you develop those guys and give them a chance to play, practice, because you’re going to need them."
Jackson, who turns 27 on Feb. 5, was a third-round pick out of Ohio State by the Lions in 2020. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate this season.
Lions sign ex-Pro Bowl TE
The Lions are adding a veteran with Super Bowl experience to the mix, with their tight end room depleted by injury.
The Lions signed veteran tight end Zach Ertz on Monday, one day after Brock Wright left their divisional round playoff win with a forearm injury.
Wright, who caught a key 29-yard pass on the Lions' third quarter touchdown drive Sunday, left the locker room with his arm in a sling and is expected to miss this week's NFC championship game against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Lions placed No. 3 tight end James Mitchell on injured reserve earlier this month after he suffered a hand injury in practice that required surgery, and starting tight end Sam LaPorta has played the past two weeks through a hyperextended knee.
LaPorta set an NFL rookie tight end playoff record with nine catches Sunday.
Ertz has played 11 NFL seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. He made three Pro Bowls in Philadelphia, was part of the Eagles' 2017 championship team where he scored the Super Bowl-winning touchdown against New England, and spent time in Arizona with current Lions tight ends coach Steve Heiden.
The Lions considered signing Ertz after LaPorta injured his knee in a Week 18 win over the Minnesota Vikings, but put that move on hold once it became obvious LaPorta avoided major injury.
Mitchell was injured in practice that same week, and the Lions have used fullback Jason Cabinda and tight end Anthony Firkser off their practice squad as backups.
Ertz, 33, brings more proven experience as a pass catcher and in big games than either of the Lions backup options, and could contribute as soon as this week given his familiarity with Heiden.
He has 709 catches for 7,434 yards in his career, was the Eagles' second-leading receiver in Super Bowl LII with seven catches for 67 yards. He caught 27 passes for 187 yards with one touchdown in seven games for the Cardinals before asking for his release earlier this season.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions injury news: Jonah Jackson out vs. SF, could play in Super Bowl
