Sunday: Noon at Ford Field (Ch. 9 and KFAN-FM 100.3)
ABOUT THE LIONS
• Last week the Lions (5-10) dropped a third straight game, a 47-7 loss to Tampa Bay, during which Detroit was without five coaches, including interim head coach Darrell Bevell, because of COVID protocols. The Lions also lost quarterback Matthew Stafford to an ankle injury in the first quarter.
• Stafford, at the end of his 12th NFL season, has yet to miss a start this year and insisted this week he wants to play against the Vikings despite a growing list of injuries. Backup quarterback Chase Daniel completed 13 of 18 passes for 86 yards and took three sacks against the Buccaneers.
• The Lions' last-place scoring defense (32.1 points per game) has four starters – cornerbacks Jeff Okudah and Desmond Trufant, and defensive linemen Trey Flowers and Danny Shelton – on injured reserve. Five straight opponents have topped 30 points against Detroit.
• The injury-plagued Lions could also be without their leading tackler, linebacker Jamie Collins Sr., who remains sidelined with a neck injury. Receiver Kenny Golladay (hip) and guard Joe Dahl (back) also have not practiced this week. Former Vikings safety Jayron Kearse, who started seven games for Detroit this year, was released this week after violating team rules on a road trip.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT | RB D'Andre Swift
• Swift, a second-round pick (35th overall) out of Georgia, leads Lions skill players with 808 yards from scrimmage, but his role has been inconsistent after starting the year behind Adrian Peterson and then missing three games due to injuries.