Lions, Bears Week 18 injury news: Amon-Ra St. Brown returns, Penei Sewell misses

SB Nation

Happy New Year!

The Detroit Lions (8-8) and Chicago Bears (11-5) were back on the practice field on Thursday in advance of their Week 18 matchup this Sunday.

Let’s take a look at the latest injury report

and get you up to date with what we know. Note: Any changes from the last injury report will be bolded.

No practice

RT Penei Sewell (ankle)
IOL Trystan Colon (wrist)
DT Alim McNeill (abdomen)

Sewell has now missed back-to-back practices, and it’s fair to speculate if he’ll play this week, considering coach Dan Campbell’s comments earlier in the week surrounding playing injured players. At the same time, Sewel has taken two practices off earlier in the season and was still able to play by Sunday, so there is still a chance he plays on Sunday.

Colon missing two practices with a lingering wrist injury he has previously played through is unusual, and could be a sign he re-aggravated it.

McNeill showed up on last week’s injury report, then exited Week 17 very early and has not practiced since. His status for this Sunday’s game is very much up in the air.

Limited practice

WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee/ankle) — upgraded from no practice
LT Taylor Decker (shoulder/illness)
LG Christian Mahogany (illness) — upgraded from no practice
OL Kayode Awosika (illness) — upgraded from no practice
OT Giovanni Manu (knee) — Days remaining in injury evaluation clock: 6
LB Alex Anzalone (concussion) — upgraded from no practice
SAF Thomas Harper (concussion) — upgraded from no practice

St. Brown hopes to be able to play this weekend, per Campbell, and a return to practice on Thursday sets him up for that. He’ll need to participate on Friday in some capacity, but signs are pointing up. St. Brown talked to our Jeremy Reisman in the locker room on Thursday.

“I feel solid. I would say a little banged up, but good enough to go, so that’s all that really matters.”

St. Brown would go on to add that he doesn’t believe there is any long-term injury risk involved for him with his current ailment:

“I don’t think so. Obviously, there’s risk in any game you play with any injury, but to answer your question, I don’t think so.”

Decker getting in a second practice this week is a good sign that he’ll be able to finish out the season on the football field.

Mahogany and Awosika returned from their illnesses, a good sign that they’re likely to be available on Sunday.

Manu is closing out his injury evaluation window, but it’s still not entirely clear if he’ll be activated and play this weekend. Sewell’s health could be a factor in determining that.

Anzalone and Harper both returned to practice on Thursday, suggesting they’re progressing through the NFL injury protocols. That being said, there are still hurdles to clear, and there’s no guarantee either play, especially Harper, who is dealing with his second concussion this season.

Full Practice

DB Avonte Maddox (back/illness) — upgraded from limited

Maddox getting in back-to-back practices after missing last week’s game is a good sign he’s on track to return, though there is no guarantee, as we’ve seen many times this season.