Entering Sunday, the Detroit Lions were looking forward to their clash with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11, and one of the reasons why was that they were expecting reinforcements.
One player who was set to return from injury was defensive end Marcus Davenport, as the veteran was expected to add some depth along the defensive line. But just when it appeared that he’d be making his first appearance since September, the Lions announced on Saturday that Davenport was not activated from injured reserve and was downgraded to out for Sunday’s game.
With that, many Lions fans may be feeling frustrated with a player who has played in just four games over the past two seasons. But Detroit may be wise to hold Davenport out for Sunday’s game, and the decision could have big dividends as the season heads down the stretch.
Lions Slow-Playing Marcus Davenport Could Pay Off Down the Stretch
The Lions’ depth along the defensive line has been a big question all season. Aidan Hutchinson has returned to form after his season-ending injury one year ago, and Al-Quadin Muhammad has been a great story as a player who has stepped up in Davenport’s absence. The Lions signed Davenport to be part of the solution in each of the past two seasons, and he said earlier this week that he is “not a patient person” when talking about his status for Sunday’s game.
It should be understandable why the Lions are taking a patient approach this time around, though. Davenport has suffered a slew of injuries since landing in Detroit, including a groin injury and triceps tear in 2024, before a pectoral injury landed him on the injured list for the past two months. With a lengthy injury history in previous stops with the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings, it’s almost a matter of when Davenport is going to get hurt again.
With that, the Lions have to be strategic about his return to the field. Giving him the full 21-day window makes sure that Davenport doesn’t have another setback from the injury and could ensure that he’s 100% when he does step on the field. Davenport’s impact could also have a bigger impact later in the season with games against the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears remaining on the schedule.
If the Lions are only going to get a handful of games from Davenport, it makes sense to use him in the ones that matter the most. Perhaps that will allow Detroit to get the most out of their investments the past two seasons and may finally give Davenport a chance to make the impact the Lions have been expecting all along.