A surprise contributor on this Detroit Lions defense popped up on the injury report on Thursday. LB Zach Cunningham, in his first season in Detroit, was limited in practice on Thursday with a hamstring injury. He was not listed on the injury report on Wednesday. As is usually the case with these mid-week injuries, his practice status on Friday will go a long way towards determining his game status against the Browns on Sunday.
Cunningham signed a one-year deal with the Lions back in May to provide some depth at linebacker. He impressed enough in training camp to earn a rotational role as Detroit’s fourth linebacker, behind LBs Derrick Barnes, Jack Campbell, and Alex Anzalone.
Also on the injury report for the Lions, LT Taylor Decker did not participate with a shoulder injury, S Daniel Thomas was a nonparticipant with a forearm injury, and LB Sione Vaki did not participate with a groin injury. Barnes and ED Al-Quadin Muhammad were both limited participants with knee injuries.
Detroit Lions LB Zach Cunningham Had One of the Plays of the Game on Monday Night
Gregory Shamus/GettyDETROIT, MICHIGAN – SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions greets his defense after a stop of the Los Angeles Rams on 4th down at Ford Field on September 08, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
On Monday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens last week, Cunningham came up huge on a pair of critical plays for the Lions defense. With the Lions up 14-7 late in the first half, the Ravens were driving, trying to tie the game. They managed to get inside the Lions‘ five-yard line, down to the goal line, with under two minutes left.
What happened next arguably decided the game. Detroit made a tough goal-line stand, holding serve on four straight downs inside the five and preventing the Ravens from scoring. Cunningham was involved on two of those plays, making a pair of tackles on Ravens RB Derrick Henry to keep him out of the end zone.
Cunningham is a former second-round pick out of Vanderbilt by the Texans back in 2017. He spent the better part of five seasons in Houston before being traded midway through 2021 to the Titans. He’s since played for the Eagles and Broncos, as well, though he only appeared in seven games last season for Denver.
The Detroit Lions Bounced Back in a Major Way Following Their Week 1 Loss
It seemed like everyone kind of wrote off the Lions after their big loss to the Packers in Green Bay in Week 1. Detroit lost both coordinators to head coaching gigs this offseason, including rising offensive guru Ben Johnson to the Bears head job. There were some departures on the offensive line, as well, further casting doubt on Detroit’s ability to repeat as the NFC’s No. 1 seed. After getting thoroughly outplayed by the Packers, it seemed like every skeptic was right.
Well, not so fast. The Lions followed up that Week 1 loss by annihilating Johnson and the Bears in Week 2, putting up 52 points and looking like world-beaters. Even more impressively, they went into Baltimore on Monday night, pulling away in the fourth quarter for a statement win over one of the AFC’s best teams. This team is here to stay, and they let everyone know it.
Lions Get Injury Update on Linebacker Who Made Key Plays Against Ravens