Detroit Lions to be without four starters vs. Cowboys; six more questionable
The Dallas Cowboys traveled to Detroit on Wednesday afternoon shortly after their final practice of the week in anticipation of their pivotal NFC matchup against the Lions on Thursday night.
Participating in that practice for the first time this week was veteran defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. After tallying two sacks on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes on Thanksgiving, Clowney missed the first three practices of the week with a hamstring injury. He was able to practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday and has been officially ruled questionable for Thursday’s contest in the Motor City.
“We’re going to take it up to game time and see,” head coach Brian Schottenheimer said on 105.3 The Fan on Wednesday morning. “As a veteran, he’s earned that right.”
Also ruled as questionable, safety Malik Hooker was a limited participant in all four practices this week with a back injury. He is likelier to play than Clowney, according to team sources.
Cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee soreness) returned to the practice field on Sunday for the first time since being placed on injured reserve on Oct. 25, but he will not be activated off IR before Thursday’s game. He has been ruled out along with starting left tackle Tyler Guyton, who will miss a second consecutive contest with a high ankle sprain.
Nine additional players were listed on the injury report this week but were listed as full participants in Wednesday’s practice and will play on Thursday night. Those players are wide receiver George Pickens (calf/knee), cornerback DaRon Bland (foot/wrist), cornerback Caelen Carson (hamstring), defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa (elbow), defensive end James Houston (foot/ankle), tackle Hakeem Adeniji (knee), defensive end Dante Fowler (shoulder), wide receiver KaVontae Turpin (shoulder) and safety Donovan Wilson (neck).
Lions down four starters, six more questionable
While the Cowboys are really only sweating out the availability of Clowney on Thursday night, the Lions have a lot more concerns before the game kicks off.
Already down starting tight end Sam LaPorta (back) and starting cornerback Terrion Arnold (shoulder), who are on injured reserve, starting safety Kerby Joseph (knee), starting wide receiver Kalif Raymond (ankle) and backup tight end Brock Wright (neck) were also ruled out on Wednesday.
The questionable list is far more extensive, as two-time All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle), two-time All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell (shoulder), Pro Bowl safety Brian Branch, starting center Graham Glasgow (knee), starting left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder) and starting left guard Kayode Awosika (foot) will all be game-time decisions.
On Tuesday afternoon, Lions head coach Dan Campbell indicated that the team will take St. Brown’s status all the way up until the inactives list is required to be sent in at 6:45 p.m. EST on Thursday night.
“I know this. If he can play, he’ll play,” Campbell told reporters. “That’s the best way to say it.”
“It hurts, but it’s getting better. So, that’s the good news. Just day-by-day,” St. Brown told reporters Tuesday. “Just trying to make sure I’m out there for my guys.”
This story was originally published December 3, 2025 at 3:07 PM.
