Detroit Lions Week 3 injury designations: Jamie Collins out, Trey Flowers questionable

The Detroit Lions have declared their injury designations ahead of their Week 3 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. In addition to placing Ifeatu Melifonwu and Tyrell Williams on injured reserve earlier this week, the Lions still have seven other players injured, but all are listed as questionable, leaving the door open for them to play this week.

Let’s take a closer look at this week’s designations.

Ruled OUT

• LB Jamie Collins (not injury related)

With the team pursuing a trade of Jamie Collins, he has been ruled out.

“Jamie Collins will not be in the building as we are exploring a trade,” coach Dan Campbell said at an impromptu press conference on Thursday. “Out of respect for him, you know, he’s played a long time in this league, appreciate him in the offseason getting his weight down, was doing what we asked him to do. His attitude has been great. It has nothing to do with any of that. Just felt like it was time for a reduced role, and I have too much respect for him to do that.”

Questionable

• RB D’Andre Swift (groin)
• WR Kalif Raymond (thigh)
• DL Michael Brockers (shoulder)
• DL Kevin Strong (concussion/thigh) - downgraded to a limited practice on Friday
• EDGE Trey Flowers (shoulder/knee) - did not practice any day this week
• EDGE Romeo Okwara (shoulder)
• EDGE Julian Okwara (neck) - added to the injury report on Thursday

On Thursday, Campbell said their plan was to assess Flowers injury “towards the end of this week (to) see if we can get him back”. Unfortunately, Flowers has been unable to practice since and his outlook for the game seems to be leaning in the wrong direction. Expect Flowers to be re-evaluated again on Saturday, and if he is not ruled out then, he could end up a game-time decision.

If Flowers is unable to play, the Lions will turn to one of their reserve EDGE rushers to fill in or split starting duties. Through the first two games, the Lions have had a competition among the reserves for playing time. Charles Harris has been active both weeks, while Austin Bryant was active Week 1, and Julian Okwara was active Week 2. All three may be needed this week, though nothing is ever quite that simple.

In addition to the competition, Julian Okwara is also dealing with a mid-week neck injury that limited him on Thursday and Friday, which could also be a factor on Sunday.

Kevin Strong suffered a concussion in Week 1, missed Week 2 as he was unable to clear the league's five-step concussion protocol rules, but in Week 3 he made progress and appeared on the right track to be cleared after a full-contact practice on Thursday. On Friday, a new thigh injury popped up on the report, and now his game status is once again in doubt. Tough break for the third-year defensive lineman.

Meanwhile, Romeo Okwara, D’Andre Swift, Kalif Raymond, and Michael Brockers were injured last week, played on Sunday, then limited in all three practices this week, and all are questionable this week. Although, assuming there were no significant setbacks, there is optimism surrounding their situations.