Detroit Lions News: Christian McCaffrey out, Bridgewater in doubt Sunday
By Bob Heyrman
After a nail-biting victory in Week Ten over Washington, it appears the Detroit Lions will catch a break this upcoming Sunday.
The Detroit Lions barely survived a second-half surge from the Washington Football Team led by veteran quarterback Alex Smith, who was basically playing with a bionic leg. Smith is, without a doubt, the NFL’s comeback player of the year and really should hold that title until he decides to retire.
The former first overall pick of the San Francisco 49ers nearly lost his life after suffering a devastating leg injury, but like Humpty Dumpty, he’s all put back together and if not for a walk-off game-winning 59-yard field goal by Lions kicker Matt Prater would have forced overtime in Detroit after being down 21 points earlier in the game.
Needless to say, that clutch kick saved the Detroit Lions season for now, but to many fans’ disappointment, it may have also saved both general manager Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia from heading to the unemployment line.
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Shifting our focus to Week Eleven.
The Detroit Lions get another winnable matchup in Week Eleven as they get set to square off against the short-handed Carolina Panthers. The Panthers will be without arguably the leagues’ most dynamic running back in Christian McCaffrey, who will be sidelined a second straight week due to a shoulder injury.
McCaffrey missed six games earlier in the season due to an ankle injury. The otherwise rarely used veteran running back Mike Davis trotted in out of the bullpen filling in admirably during McCaffrey’s absence earlier in the year, averaging 4.2 yards per carry totaling 385 rushing yards on 92 totes, but he’s also added 47 receptions totaling an additional 290 yards. Davis has totaled four touchdowns on the season. He’s a player this Detroit Lions defense needs to be aware of come Sunday.
The Panthers may also be without starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater after he suffered a knee injury late in the game Sunday against Tampa Bay. NFL insider Ian Rapoport reports that Bridgewater suffered an MCL Sprain and his status for Sunday is ‘up in the air.’
If Bridgewater is unable to go, the Panthers will be forced to turn the keys over to P.J. Walker, who earned some buzz with his excellent play during a short stint in the XFL.
Next. D’Andre Swift looks great as a three-down back. dark
The Detroit Lions should be able to take care of business against the ailing Panthers; if so, they’d suddenly have clawed their way back to even at 5-5 regular-season record.