Detroit Lions injury report: Decker, Hand, and Davis questionable vs. Chargers

As expected by their limited activity in practice this week, Detroit Lions starters Taylor Decker, Da’Shawn Hand, and Jarrad Davis were all listed as questionable for Sunday’s home opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. Neither Davis nor Hand were active in Week 1 against the Cardinals after being designated questionable for that game, so it remains to be seen if either defensive player makes the gameday active roster this week.

Taylor Decker, on the other hand, was a new addition to the injury report this week with scant details available regarding his back injury. As our own Jeremy Reisman mentioned earlier today, the Lions can ill-afford to be without Decker against the Chargers’ fierce pass rush because the alternatives at left tackle are not great:

The Los Angeles Chargers have a fantastic duo of pass rushers in Melvin Ingram III and Joey Bosa. Even though Decker struggled in the season opener, he’s a much more promising player than Crosby, who struggled mightily throughout training camp and the preseason. Even worse, if something were to happen to Crosby, the Lions’ depth at tackle beyond him is almost nonexistent. The Lions would be forced to move an interior guy to the outside, and that could have a big domino effect on the offensive line.

The one piece of unambiguously good news in the injury report is that cornerback Rashaan Melvin was not on it at all. After being limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, Melvin returned to full practice on Friday.

As for their opponents, the Chargers released their full injury report on Friday afternoon as well and had few surprises. Starting tight end Hunter Henry is OUT as expected with a left knee fracture, and cornerback Michael Davis’ early Week 1 hamstring injury against the Colts has him listed as doubtful for the upcoming game. Although he is listed as questionable, the Los Angeles coaches are worried about wide receiver Mike Williams’ knee injury. Remaining options on the roster to replace these receiving threats are Travis Benjamin, Dontrelle Inman, and Geremy Davis (who unfortunately for Los Angeles is also listed as questionable).

Lions Week 2 injury report:

LB Jarrad Davis (ankle) - Questionable
DT Da’Shawn Hand (elbow) - Questionable
T Taylor Decker (back) - Questionable

Chargers Week 2 injury report:

TE Hunter Henry (knee) - OUT
CB Michael Davis (hamstring) - Doubtful
WR Mike Williams (knee) - Questionable
K Michael Badgley (groin) - Questionable
DE Isaac Rochell (concussion) - Questionable
S Roderic Teamer (hamstring) - Questionable
LB Jatavis Brown (ankle) - Questionable
WR Geremy Davis (hamstring) - Questionable
LB Denzel Perryman (ankle) - Questionable