The Lions cruised to a dominant victory on Sunday, but their defense took a hit with a significant injury to linebacker Alex Anzalone, who suffered a broken forearm. Head coach Dan Campbell confirmed that Anzalone is expected to miss six to eight weeks, which could sideline him through the regular season and potentially keep him out until the playoffs.
Anzalone’s absence will leave a void in Detroit’s defense, as he has been a consistent starter since joining the Lions in 2020. The 30-year-old has logged over 1,000 defensive snaps in each of the past two seasons and surpassed 100 tackles in both campaigns, while also contributing 4.5 sacks. This year, he’s tallied 56 tackles, including seven for loss, along with four pass deflections. Replacing his production will be a challenge, especially with Derrick Barnes already on injured reserve and uncertain for the rest of the season.
With Anzalone out, the Lions will rely on 2023 first-round pick Jack Campbell as a starter, while Malcolm Rodriguez could see an increased role. Jalen Reeves-Maybin’s recent move to IR further thins Detroit’s linebacker depth.
Anzalone, who re-signed with the Lions on a three-year, $18.75 million contract this offseason, has been a key part of a defense that ranked eighth in scoring entering Sunday’s action. The Lions (9-1) still sit atop the NFC North, but with little margin for error, they’ll need to adjust without their star linebacker in the coming weeks as they push toward the playoffs.
