The Detroit Lions are taking on the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday with the hopes of extending their win streak to four and continuing to build momentum before a big clash against the Chiefs in Week 6. Unfortunately, injuries have begun to pile up for the Lions, once again on the defensive side of the ball.
While DJ Reed and Kerby Joseph's injuries have understandably received the majority of the attention, the Lions will also likely have a few key depth pieces out in Week 5. Among those is trusted backup linebacker Zach Cunningham.
Lions Will Likely Be Without Zach Cunningham vs. Bengals
In the latest injury report released by the team on Thursday, Cunningham was listed as a non-participant for the second straight day. Considering that he already missed Week 4 with the same hamstring injury, it's safe to assume that the veteran defender won't suit up on Sunday. Hamstrings are notoriously tricky, and rushing him back out there without having a full practice session in would be too risky.
On paper, Cunningham's absence may not seem like a big deal. He has played a total of 11 defensive snaps in two games so far this season. He has, however, been an important part of special teams, lining up for 57% of special team snaps in his two games.
The 30-year-old's presence as a highly experienced linebacker makes the Lions feel good about their defensive depth. In fact, he has recently received a ton of praise from defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, who called him "a starting-caliber linebacker in this league".
Fans who are familiar with Cunningham's track record wouldn't be too surprised by this statement. Cunningham was a game-wrecker earlier in his career with the Texans, earning himself a four-year, $58 million extension that made him one of the highest-paid linebackers in the NFL, and leading the league in tackles in 2020.
At this stage of his career, Cunningham is obviously not that player, but he has proven that he can still be effective in short spurts. As recently as the 2023 season, Cunningham was a starter with the Eagles and was highly productive.
In Detroit's crowded and talented linebacker room, Cunningham's path to starting was already a tough one. The latest hamstring injury will only set him back further. Upon his return, however, Sheppard and Dan Campbell will be thrilled to have another quality backup option that they can rely on.