Lions edge rusher Marcus Davenport may be facing a lengthy absence (yet again)

Back in March, in lieu of trying harder to retain Za'Darius Smith, the Detroit Lions brought back defensive end Marcus Davenport on one-year deal.

Davenport played just two games for the Lions last season, before an elbow/triceps injury in Week 3 cost him the rest of the season. Head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes made an effort to talk themselves into the former first-round pick as the edge rusher solution opposite Aidan Hutchinson, site largely unseen last season.

Davenport missed 13 games in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings due to an ankle injury, and he has generally had durability concerns throughout his career. Don't bring that up to him though, he made it clear he doesn't have time for a dose of reality about his injury woes.

In Week 2 against the Chicago Bears, Davenport left the game twice. First it was an ankle injury in the first quarter, then it was a shoulder injury in the third quarter that rendered him unable to return.

It's a unique week for the Lions since they play Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens, with practices Thursday-Saturday rather than the typical Wednesday-Friday. On Thursday, Campbell pushed off knowing anything firm about Davenport's status until "the end of the week" as tests were still being done.

Marcus Davenport seems to be facing (another) lengthy absence

Davenport's injury has been labeled as a chest injury by the Lions. He of course did not practice on Thursday, as Campbell said before the day's session, and he was the only player who did not practice in any capacity on Friday. At this point, it would take a healing miracle for Davenport to do anything in practice on Saturday and play on Monday night.

As Davenport tracks toward being out against the Ravens, barring something completely unforeseen, multiple reporters spotted him with his right arm in a sling on Friday.