Lions fans, hold your breath! Star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown's availability for Thursday night's clash against the Dallas Cowboys hangs in the balance. This is the latest from ESPN's Eric Woodyard, who has the inside scoop on the Detroit Lions. Woodyard, who joined ESPN in September 2019 and switched to covering the Lions in April 2021, is a Michigan native and author of three books.
The key question is: Will St. Brown be on the field? It's a game-time decision, according to head coach Dan Campbell, who simply stated, "If he can play, he'll play."
St. Brown has been nursing a sprained ankle and hasn't practiced this week. But he's staying mentally engaged with the game plan. He himself admits that his participation is "still up in the air," as he's carefully testing his ankle to ensure he can make cuts and changes of direction without further injury.
"It hurts, but it's getting better. So, that's the good news. Just day-by-day," St. Brown shared with reporters. His determination to play for his teammates is clear.
The injury occurred in the first quarter of the Lions' Thanksgiving Day loss to the Green Bay Packers. St. Brown was rolled up from behind while blocking for running back Jahmyr Gibbs and didn't return to the game.
Initially, Coach Campbell thought St. Brown might be out for a week or two. But St. Brown is pushing to play, especially with the team entering the final five games of the season, all while vying for a playoff spot.
Here's why his presence is crucial: St. Brown is a team captain and leads Detroit with 75 receptions for 884 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
"Every day it's gotten better so I hope that it continues to get better these next few days," St. Brown said, offering a glimmer of hope for his fans.
But here's where it gets controversial... Could the Lions be better off without St. Brown if he's not fully healthy? Some might argue that risking further injury could be detrimental to their playoff hopes.
What do you think? Should St. Brown play if he's not 100%? Let me know in the comments!
