Detroit Lions place WR Tyrell Williams on IR, K Austin Seibert on reserve/COVID

The Detroit Lions announced a couple of roster moves on Thursday morning that will have a major impact on Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens and beyond.

The Lions’ top receiver Tyrell Williams has been placed on injured reserve after suffering a concussion in Week 1. Earlier this week, head coach Dan Campbell had already declared Williams out for Sunday’s game, but it appears the brain injury is serious enough to sideline Williams for at least another three weeks. He will not be eligible to return to the 53-man roster until Week 6’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. But considering the seriousness of concussions, that is not the main concern. Let’s hope Williams will be okay.

With Williams vacating a roster spot, the team signed linebacker/special teamer Josh Woods off the Chicago Bears practice squad.

Additionally, the Lions announced that starting kicker Austin Seibert has been placed on reserve/COVID-19. At this point, it’s unclear whether he tested positive or had a high-risk close contact with someone. If Seibert is vaccinated, he could potentially return to the team after two negative tests 24 hours apart and with no symptoms. That gives him a very small chance to play in this game.

More likely, however, is that the Lions will utilize Ryan Santoso, who was signed to the practice squad earlier this week and was protected on Wednesday. Santoso was cut from the Carolina Panthers after just one week with the team. While he made both of his field goals in Week 1 (long of 29), he missed an extra point. The Titans swiped him up after the Panthers cut him, but Tennessee released him just a few days later after Randy Bullock—a former Lions—kicked a game-winner for them against the Seahawks in Week 2.