Detroit Lions injury update: Is Alex Anzalone playing in Week 18?

Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone has been out since suffering a broken forearm in Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. A return for the playoffs has always been in play, within a 6-8 week recovery timetable keeping the possibility of a late regular season return open.

On Wednesday morning, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network took a look at the difference in the Lions and Minnesota Vikings' rosters since their first meeting back in Week 7. Some notable Lions who played in that first meeting won't be available on Sunday (Alim McNeill, David Montgomery, Malcolm Rodriguez), and Rapoport also had a note on Anzalone.

"Alex Anzalone, the play-making linebacker with a broken forearm, he played in that (Week 7) game, not gonna play in this one."

Subsequent reports on Wednesday contradicted Rapoport, both locally (Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network) and nationally (ESPN's Adam Schefter).

As Schefter reported, Anzalone was listed as a limited participant for Wednesday's practice. The Lions conducted a walkthrough, so participation levels were only estimations, but Anzalone's 21-day activation window has been opened.

Lions injury update: Will Alex Anzalone play in Week 18?

After Monday night's win over the San Francisco 49ers, Dan Campbell was asked about Anzalone as his potential return to action looms.

"We’ll see,” Campbell said. “He’s doing well. He’s close. He’s really close.”

The Lions' defense has of course been greatly depleted by injury, but Anzalone's absence in recent weeks might be the most impactful. The eye test says it, and so do deeper metrics like the all-encompassing DVOA.