Numerous Lions Players Miss Practice on Wednesday After Bills Loss

The Detroit Lions sit at 12-2 on the season thanks to the physicality they bring game in and game out. Early in the season, the Lions' physical play affected opponents so much that it was nearly a guarantee that they would lose the week after they played them. While that trend has changed throughout the season, the physicality remains.

Unfortunately, physicality goes two ways, and the Lions seem to have met their match last week against the Buffalo Bills. Exiting the first practice of the week, the Lions had a long list of players not practicing. According to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic, Brian Branch, Za’Darius Smith, DJ Reader, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Graham Glasgow, Taylor Decker, Kevin Zeitler, Frank Ragnow, and David Montgomery did not practice on Wednesday.

Lions News: Week 16 Begins With a Long List of Players Not Participating in Practice

Thankfully, Pouncey clarified that Dan Campbell considered this a rest day for many of these players. The only players on the list that have been ruled out for the season are David Montgomery and D.J. Reader. The rest all surely have some nagging aliment that they have been playing through.

Most, if not all, NFL players are dinged up a bit by the end of the season, but they still go out and compete every Sunday. Campbell allowing a good portion of his starters to rest on Wednesday is important.

The Lions already lost so many players to injury this season, so the healthier the starters are heading into this final stretch and the playoffs, the better. One more catastrophic injury could certainly knock the chances for the Lions to make the Super Bowl to none. After their loss to the Bills, Detroit already fell from Super Bowl favorites to tied for the third-best odds on FanDuel Sportsbook.

Don't be surprised if Campbell allows more players over the next two weeks to rest on Wednesdays.

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