Detroit Lions Week 7 injury designations: T.J. Hockenson, D’Andre Swift, Trey Flowers questionable

The trio are going through the usual routine.

The Detroit Lions have declared their injury designations for their upcoming Week 7 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in California. While no Lions’ player has been ruled out due to injury, there are several dealing with injuries and listed as questionable—including their top two offensive weapons.

Returned to practice, Still on IR

• LT Taylor Decker (finger) — Day 10 of the 21-day evaluation period
• DL Kevin Strong (thigh) — Day 10 of the 21-day evaluation period
• DL Da’Shawn Hand (groin) — Day 3 of the 21-day evaluation period

Coach Dan Campbell delivered a few updates on the Lions players on IR, which Jeremy Reisman covered in detail in Friday’s injury updates.

The highlights include, Decker has not been practicing recently (he missed every practice this week) because he suffered a setback after returning to practice last week, but because his 21-day clock expires during the Lions’ bye week, the Lions believe they get an extra week of evaluation on him and Strong. Decisions on Decker, Strong, and Hand are expected to be made no later than Tuesday, November 9.

Additionally, Decker won’t play this weekend, Strong is further along than Hand but no decision has been made on either for Sunday, and Ifeatu Melifonwu is at least a few weeks away from practicing but they believe he will be able to return to the team sometime this season.

Now, Let’s take a closer look at the official injury report from Friday.

Ruled out

• None

The Lions will not rule any players out this week due to injury.

Questionable

• TE T.J. Hockenson (knee)
• RB D’Andre Swift (groin)
• FB Jason Cabinda (hip)
• EDGE Trey Flowers (knee)

Hockenson, Swift, and Flowers have followed the same practice schedule for the past three weeks. Hockenson sits out Wednesday, then joins the other two for limited practices the rest of the week. By Friday, all three are declared questionable but are active on game day and don’t appear to have any obvious limitations.

It’s possible things change on game day this week, especially after offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn’s comments on Thursday:

“You have some guys that didn’t practice as much last week and it showed up in the game,” Lynn said. “Guys that don’t practice as much, we won’t put as much on their plate, regardless of who they are.”

Hockenson and Swift are far and away the Lions’ top offensive players right now, and if the Lions do intend on scaling back their opportunities on Sunday, it’s scary to think about how that would further negatively impact an already struggling offense.

Cabinda has been scarcely used on offense recently, likely a product of the Lions playing from behind and having to throw more often, but if he is also scaled back, it’s possible the teams’ special teams play could take a hit.

No injury designation

• DL Michael Brockers (shoulder)
• DL Nick Williams (knee)
• EDGE Charles Harris (hip/oblique)
• S Will Harris (hip)

Williams was injured during last Sunday’s game, and per usual, a player injured during the game typically sits out Wednesday’s practice. After getting some rest Wednesday, he returned to a limited practice on Thursday, then was upgraded to a full practice on Friday.

Brockers, Harris, and Harris returned to full practices on Thursday, and all four players are good to go for Sunday, as they do not carry injury designations with them to Los Angeles.