Now that my top 10 Detroit Lions injury news of 2024 has been revealed, let’s look back even further because studying history can be informative. Here’s my top 10 injury news of 2023 along with “where are they now” updates.
DETROIT LIONS TOP 10 INJURY NEWS OF 2023
#1 James Houston right ankle
There were high hopes for Houston coming off an eye-popping rookie season with eight sacks. He was especially important because the Lions desperately needed a pass rusher to support Aidan Hutchinson. However, a severe right ankle injury (suspected high ankle sprain) with fibula fracture in game two cost him almost the entire season.
There was rampant speculation throughout the year of his return date, which ended up not being until the final game of the year in the playoffs vs the 49ers.
2025 UPDATE: The next season (2024), his performance never came close to matching his rookie year. He was released by the Lions midway through the season and picked up by the Browns. The ankle injury may have dramatically altered his career as he currently remains unsigned as an unrestricted free agent.
#2 Sam LaPorta left knee scare
In a mostly meaningless regular season finale, LaPorta’s left knee hyperextended in a highly concerning way. The mechanism put his ACL and peroneal nerve at risk which would have impacted the next season and beyond. Amazingly, he was able to avoid any serious injury and played the very next week in the playoffs.
2025 UPDATE: Just recently, LaPorta revealed he had ankle surgery following the 2023 season. He had suffered an ankle injury in the game prior to the knee hyperextension.
There were no signs of lingering issues for the knee or ankle, as he played 17 of 18 games in the 2024 season logging 66 receptions for 777 yards (includes playoffs). LaPorta confirmed he came out of the 2024 season pretty healthy and is poised for a big 2025.
#3 The overall excellent team health
The team enjoyed overall excellent health with only three major long-term losses in Emmanuel Moseley (ACL), CJ Gardner-Johnson (pec), and James Houston (ankle). The phenomenal rookie class of Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Sam LaPorta, and Brian Branch stayed very healthy which aided in their development.
The lack of injuries played a big role in the success of the season that took them all the way to the NFC championship game.
2025 UPDATE: The healthy 2023 year stands in stark contrast to the devastating amount of defensive injuries suffered in 2024.
#4 Emmanuel Moseley ACL
Moseley tore his right ACL just two plays into his season – which was almost exactly one year after he tore his left ACL. With his loss, the CB depth chart was shaky the rest of the year. Beyond #1 CB Cam Sutton, players like Jerry Jacobs and Kindle Vildor struggled with consistency.
The weakness in the secondary was a major factor in the season-ending loss to the 49ers in the NFC championship game. In the offseason, the Lions aggressively addressed this weakness by trading for Carlton Davis, signing Amik Robertson, and drafting Terrion Arnold (1st round) and Ennis Rakestraw (2nd round).
2025 UPDATE: Moseley was looking good in the Lions 2024 training camp until a pec rupture in early August sabotaged another season. When he returned from the pec, hamstring and illness issues caused more missed time. He only appeared in two games the entire year. Currently, Moseley is unsigned as an unrestricted free agent.
#5 Alim McNeill MCL
McNeill sprained his right MCL in Week 13 during a collision with Aidan Hutchinson. In a testament to his toughness, he finished the game before being put on IR two days later. He ended up missing four games due to the MCL.
2025 UPDATE: His display of toughness in 2023 likely resonated with the Lions who rewarded him with a big extension in October 2024. McNeill’s toughness will be tested again, as he is now recovering from an ACL tear suffered on December 15, 2024.
#6 CJ Gardner-Johnson pec tear
CJGJ tore his pec in game two which kept him out for the next four months. Tracy Walker attempted to fill the void at safety, but was never quite the same following his Achilles rupture from the year before. Ifeatu Melifonwu stepped in and had an impressive second half of the year alongside starter Kerby Joseph.
To his credit, Gardner-Johnson rehabbed hard and was able to return for the regular season finale along with the three playoff games. He left for the Eagles in the offseason.
2025 UPDATE: The departure of Gardner-Johnson allowed for the emergence of Brian Branch as a starting safety. In 2024, Branch made the Pro Bowl, while fellow safety, Kerby Joseph made All-Pro. After just one year with the Eagles, Gardner-Johnson was traded to the Texans making it three teams in three years.
#7 Jonah Jackson’s turbulent season
Since being drafted by the Lions in the 2020 3rd-round, Jackson was an impressive, reliable fixture at LG. That is until injuries plagued his fourth season.
In Week five, he suffered a left ankle sprain that cost him the next three games. In Week ten, a wrist injury cost him the next two games. In the Week 20 playoff game vs the Bucs, he tore his left meniscus ending his season.
The injuries likely dampened the Lions interest in re-signing him that offseason. He ended up signing with the Rams for 3-years, $51 million.
2025 UPDATE: In 2024, his health problems persisted, as shoulder/scapula injuries limited him to just four games. He has since been traded to the Chicago Bears to be reunited with head coach Ben Johnson for the 2025 season.
#8 No official concussions during the entire regular season
The only official concussion throughout the year was to Penei Sewell in training camp. Making it through a 20-game season (regular + playoffs) without a diagnosed concussion was remarkable. The team’s single concussion was significantly lower than the league average of 6.8 in 2023.
2025 UPDATE: The next season (2024), the Lions reverted to the mean with 6 concussions – which was right at the league average of 5.7.
#9 Mohamed Ibrahim hip dislocation
Ibrahim was the victim of a fluky mechanism that resulted in a rare injury – hip dislocation. He was taken directly to the hospital, anesthetized and had his hip reduced (put back in place).
This severe injury ended his season and potentially his career. The major concern is a 5-10% chance of avascular necrosis (death of bone due to lack of blood flow) which typically manifests within 5yrs.
2025 UPDATE: In the 2024 preseason, he signed with the Vikings which suggests there was no evidence of avascular necrosis at that time. However, he was waived just four day later and has not been in the NFL since.
#10 Frank Ragnow’s painful year
Ragnow was a fixture on the weekly injury reports – sometimes with up to four body parts listed. In Week seven, he missed one game with a calf. In Week 13, he tore his left knee meniscus and had surgery – missing just one game. In the playoffs, he had a suspected left MCL and left high ankle sprain but played through. During the entire season, he was dealing with a chronic toe issue that may have stemmed from a 2021 injury.
Despite the many injuries, he showed his toughness by missing only two games in the 20 game season. The rough year caused so much speculation of retirement that he felt the need to publicly proclaim that he was not retiring.
2025 UPDATE: Ragnow had a healthier 2024 season missing just one game due to a left pec strain. Despite the seemingly positive trend in health, Ragnow retired in June 2025.
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And for all you history buffs… the Top 10 Lions injury news of 2022
#1 Saivion Smith – Temporary paralysis
#2 Tracy Walker – Achilles tear in Week three ending his season
#3 Halapoulivaati Vaitai – Suspected nerve impingement near spine, missed entire season
#4 D’Andre Swift – Bothered all year by left shoulder separation and left ankle sprain
#5 Jeff Okudah – Amazing (at first) Achilles recovery
#6 DJ Chark – Six missed games due to mysterious ankle
#7 Frank Ragnow – Chronic toe issue all year
#8 Amon-Ra St. Brown – Suspected right high ankle sprain causing one missed game and decreased production for weeks
#9 Julian Okwara – Right elbow injury in Week 11 ending his season
#10 DeShon Elliott – Left shoulder subluxation causing two missed games
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Throwback: 2023 Detroit Lions Top 10 injury news with where are they now
Reporting by Jimmy Liao, MD, Lions Wire / Lions Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
