Lions Star Running Back Reportedly Unlikely To Play Vs. Patriots

The New England Patriots face a real challenge at the moment. Head coach Bill Belichick and his team will meet the Detroit Lions on Sunday, but Brian Hoyer and Mac Jones won’t see any action in the game. The veteran quarterback has yet to clear his concussion protocol and Jones needs time to recover. Belichick will have to rely on Bailey Zappe in the upcoming game. The rookie quarterback did a good job against the Green Bay Packers and fans can catch a breath of relief. The Lions will make things much easier for them. According to Jeremy Fowler from ESPN, top Lions running back D’Andre Swift may miss Sunday’s game.

Fowler reported that Swift is “unlikely” to play on Sunday. It seems like his shoulder needs more time to heal. Swift didn’t play against the Seattle Seahawks and saw limited action in the last two games. In Week 1, he delivered 12 carries and did 144 yards on 15 rushes.

The #Lions will likely be without RB D'Andre Swift (shoulder) for this week's game against the Patriots, per source. Plan is still for him to return after the bye (Week 7), barring unforeseen development.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 6, 2022

Lions running back is not the only injured player on the roster

Losing Swift to an injury is a big blow for the Lions. However, their defense is a huge threat this season. The Detroit offense is lethal to many teams and ranks first in points per game, yards per game, and yards per carry. There’s a big twist though. Their defense is a bit shaky and the Lions rank last in total defense and scoring defense. Players surrendered 48 points in the loss to the Seahawks.

Let’s see if the current offense plays well against the Patriots. According to Wednesday’s injury report, ten players missed practice. T.J. Hockenson, Josh Reynolds, DJ Chark, Quintez Cephus, Frank Ragnow, and Evan Brown were added to the DNP list.

The Patriots look relatively healthy right now. Jones’ injury will keep him out of the field for quite some time. This may be the biggest challenge for the team, but Belichick trusts Zappe and the rookie may be the best surprise in the regular season. It’s a big game for players on both teams. Who will win this one?