Lions preseason goal: Avoid injuries. Here's how that went in 2024.

USA Today

3 days ago

The Lions first preseason game is against the Chargers in the Hall of Fame game on July 31. It's the first of four preseason games this year. Maybe the most important goal of the games is to avoid injuries. Even in preseason and practice, severe injuries can happen that alter a season.
Here's a retrospective on the Lions preseason (training camp and games) injuries suffered last year categorized by severity of injury. Overall, the starters were able to stay pretty clean while the depth of the team took some hits. This result is in large part due to the Lions philosophy of not playing any starters during preseason games. I would expect that philosophy to continue this preseason.
SEVERE
John Cominsky, DT - MCL surgery
Cominsky hurt his MCL in practice at the end of July. The Lions hoped that Cominsky could return late in the year, as he was given a spot on the initial 53-man roster before being placed on IR. However, he never made it back. With all the defensive line injuries, Cominsky could have made a big difference in the playoffs.
Connor Galvin, OT - MCL surgery
Galvin was in position to win the backup OT job until this season-ending injury in the first preseason game. Fortunately, Dan Skipper performed well in that role during the season.
Antoine Green, WR - concussion/neck
Green was looking like a strong candidate to make the team, but this injury in the first preseason game ended his season and possibly his career.
Emmanuel Moseley, CB - pec rupture
After two straight ACL's, Moseley's pec injury suffered during practice sabotaged another season. He was activated on November 23 but then missed more time with a hamstring and an illness. The Lions could have used him after Carlton Davis and Amik Robertson got hurt.
Michael Badgley, K - hamstring surgery
The hamstring ended Badgley's season and cleared the way for Jake Bates to win the job. So far, Bates has worked out well for the Lions.
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MODERATE
Christian Mahogany, OG - mono
Prior to the start of camp, Mahogany was diagnosed with mono. He ended up missing all of camp and the first month of the season, but rebounded impressively to become the primary OG backup later in the year. He likely enters this season as a starter.
Ifeatu Melifonwu, S - ankle
A suspected Achilles issue in preseason put him on IR for most of the regular season. His practice window didn't open until November 6. A hand fracture delayed his return even longer.
Brodric Martin, DT - right knee hyperextension
This injury in the final preseason game caused Martin to miss the entire first half of the season. He wasn't activated until November 19 and barely played the rest of the year.
Tre'Quan Smith, WR - hand
Smith hurt his hand in the second preseason game. He missed the season and hasn't been in the NFL since.
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MILD
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB - hamstring
Gibbs had a hamstring injury in practice. While the hamstring was minor, it was notable because it led to some misinformation about his diagnosis on the internet. Keep this in mind during this preseason.
Hendon Hooker, QB - concussion
Too much scrambling led to a concussion in the first preseason game. It wasn't overly serious as he was back for the second preseason game. He'll need to read the field better and make quicker decisions this year.
Terrion Arnold, CB - pec
Word of a pec injury during practice raised concern for a worst-case scenario. Fortunately, it may have been just a minor bruise, and he missed no time.
James Houston, EDGE - knee bone bruise
Coming off a severe right ankle injury from the previous season, Houston was limited by a bone bruise during preseason. He was never able to regain his rookie form and was released midseason.
Penei Sewell, OT - ankle sprain
Sewell suffered an ankle injury in practice. He went on to have at least two more ankle sprains in the regular season. Fortunately, all were minor.
Dan Skipper, OT - bilateral ankle sprains
Somehow, Skipper managed to get rolled up on both ankles on the same play in the second preseason game. He recovered quickly in time for the regular season opener.
Kevin Zeitler, OG - shoulder
A shoulder issue limited him throughout preseason but didn't seem to be an issue during the regular season.
Sam LaPorta, TE - hamstring
The hamstring slowed down his preseason, but he was ready for Week 1 of the regular season.
Carlton Davis, CB - hamstring
While the hamstring wasn't a big deal, it was just the first of many injuries (thumb fracture, left knee, jaw fracture) he suffered throughout the season.
Loren Strickland, S - thumb
A thumb injury kept him out for the first regular season game but he was back for Week 2.