The Detroit Lions are 14 games in with two remaining, and it's been next-man-up all year as they've been hit hard by injuries this season.
Just this week, the Lions placed wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (ankle), linebacker Jarrad Davis (ankle/knee), defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand and guard Joe Dahl (back knee) on injured reserve, ending the 2019 season for those four starters.
During Sunday's 38-17 loss to the Buccaneers, Detroit lost three more starters, including linebacker Devon Kennard (hamstring), defensive tackle Mike Daniels (arm) and guard Kenny Wiggins (arm), along with key contributor, running back J.D. McKissic (stinger).
Detroit's been without quarterback Matthew Stafford for a month and half now, and they've battled a multitude of injuries to key spots all season long.
"You know it's part of the deal," Lions head coach Matt Patricia said. "It's not easy, but it's part of the deal. We just tell the guys we have to be ready to go and these are the scenarios that might come up, and if they come up everyone just has to be ready.
"Injuries are going to occur, sometimes you get a lot more than not, and it just seems like we've had a lot. So, from that aspect of it a lot of guys have to be ready to go. Those guys have to pick up where everybody left off, so that becomes a little bit challenging from that aspect of it."
It sounded like Kennard's injury was the least severe of the four suffered Sunday, but more tests need to be done, and the Lions will know more as the week progresses.
TWO IN DEBUT
Running back Wes Hills, who the Lions signed to the active roster from their practice squad on Saturday, didn't have a huge statistical game for the Lions against the Bucs. He rushed 10 times for just 21 yards starting in place of the inactive Bo Scarbrough (ribs) against Tampa Bay's No. 1 ranked rushing defense. But the undrafted rookie from Slippery Rock did score two touchdowns on two 1-yard runs.
In doing so, he joined Isaiah Crowell (2014) as the only undrafted rookies in the common draft era to rush for two touchdowns in their first career game.
"It means the world," Hills said of the two touchdowns after the game. "The Lions organization took a chance (on me), gave me a chance, kept me around and gave me an opportunity. I just wanted to go out there and give it my all and help them win."
Hills' two rushing touchdowns ties Kerryon Johnson for the team lead this season.
HOMECOMING
Wide receiver Brett Perriman spent six years in Detroit from 1991-96. His best season was in 1995, when he caught 108 passes for 1,488 yards and nine touchdowns.
His son, Breshad Perriman, is in his first year playing for the Buccaneers after stops in Baltimore and Cleveland.
Like his dad, the younger Perriman gave the Lions faithful a show Sunday, it just happened to be for the opponent. He finished with five receptions for 113 yards and three touchdowns.
"I haven't had the chance to really think about it yet, but it just means a lot to me," Breshad said after the game.
"I have a lot of love for my pops and the legacy he had here and just to be able to come here and have a great game, one of my biggest games of my career, it means a lot for our story, my story, my dad's story and my family's story in general."
EXTRA POINT
- At 34 years and 43 days old, wide receiver Danny Amendola became the oldest player in franchise history to post a 100-yard game (102). No player 34 years-or-older had previously produced a 100-yard game for Detroit.
