Lions IR list expected to grow with latest injuries

The injury bug has decimated the Detroit Lions this season, forcing a preseason Super Bowl favorite to test its depth in a significant way.

While the Lions continue to keep their heads above water as the list of injuries grows, that anchor is becoming heavier by the week. Unfortunately, the long-term injuries keep coming, and the latest ones to Alim McNeill and Carlton Davis III don't seem good.

Here is the list of players the Lions have put on injured reserve since the start of August and when it’s believed that they could return based on various reports and comments by head coach Dan Campbell:

• G Netane Muti — next season
• ED Nate Lynn — next season
• WR Tre’Quan Smith (released)
• CB Emmanuel Mosely — already back
• DL John Cominsky — maybe in postseason
• LB Derrick Barnes — maybe late in postseason
• ED Marcus Davenport — Super Bowl, if at all
• S Ifeatu Melifonwu — by end of regular-season
• ED Aidan Hutchinson — Super Bowl, if at all
• DT Kyle Peko — next season
• LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin — maybe late in postseason
• LB Alex Anzalone — end of regular-season/start of postseason
• CB Ennis Rakestraw — by end of regular-season
• WR Kalif Raymond — end of regular-season/start of postseason
• LB Malcolm Rodriguez — next season
• DT Mekhi Wingo — next season

Others, like WR Antoine Green, K Michael Badgley and linemen David Bada and Connor Galvin landed on IR earlier and are therefore ineligible to return this season.

The jury is still out on McNeill and Davis but Campbell’s comments after Sunday’s game certainly didn’t seem positive for a return this season. Obviously CB Khalil Dorsey was seriously hurt on Sunday, too, and David Montgomery might also miss significant time.