Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has to make a decision heading into the team’s final game of the season. It’s similar to the decisions key players and their coaches always make going into Week 18.
St. Brown can’t be held down, and he surprised everyone when he was suddenly available to play in the Dallas Cowboys game on December, after being out with an ankle injury that had him questionable all week. In that game, he had a glowing performance, clocking six catches for 92 yards and helping the Lions win 44-30. He also set a new NFL record for most receptions in the first five seasons of a career in that game, according to ESPN research.
So, on Sunday, January 4, in what marks the Lions’ final game of the season for 2025-26, the Lions play their former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears on the road. There are no playoffs at stake for either team, because the Lions are out and the Bears are in. So, will St. Brown play?
A Glimmer of Hope for the Detroit Lions
If the Lions want to win this game and spoil the Bears’ chances of getting the second spot in the NFC, then they’ll likely need St. Brown. He’s dynamite on the field.
St. Brown has been nursing an injury and was given a did not practice designation in the team’s practice on Wednesday, December 31, practice. But, in some good news, he was a limited participant on Thursday, January 1, with his knee/ankle, indicating that he is leaning closer to participating at the game.
In more positive injury news, linebacker Alex Anzalone, safety Thomas Harper and left guard Christian Mahogany were all limited participants on Thursday after not practicing at practice on Wednesday. In total, the injury report was another long one, with 11 Detroit Lions appearing on it.
Stakes Are High for the Chicago Bears Against the Detroit Lions
So, the Lions are playing for pride, but the Bears are playing to get that second spot in the NFC’s overall rankings. The Bears have already cinched the NFC North. Yes, that hurts. Meanwhile, the team fell out of the postseason on Christmas Day, December 25, according to NFL research, with a loss to the Minnesota Vikings at home, with a 23-10 final score.
Ahead of the Lions game, Johnson spoke to reporters on Wednesday, December 31, about the matchup and said he’s going to give it his all. He’s not resting his starters. He knows the No. 2 slot in the NFC is on the line.
“We’re constantly improving. That’s the goal, at least,” Johnson said on Wednesday. “We’ve got a lot of young players where each week you do see growth. We’re going to stay true to our process throughout this thing. This is the next one.”
He added, “Certainly, coming off a loss like that, too, you don’t want to go into the postseason with two losses in a row. You want to have a little momentum behind you to get you going. That’s part of the thought process.”
Previously, Johnson said that the team was “playing to win,” too, which adds to this narrative. He also promised that the Bears would be playing their best football in December, and that’s certainly happening.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown Has a Decision to Make appeared first on Heavy Sports.