4 players out, 3 questionable for MNF matchup vs. Buccaneers

DETROIT – The Detroit Lions listed seven players on the final injury report ahead of their Week 7 matchup against the red-hot Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football inside Ford Field.

The Lions, at 4-2, are facing a significant deficit on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, as they are coming off an embarrassing loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football, where officiating and temperament were the talk of the town.

Adding insult to the situation are injuries in the secondary as Detroit will enter MNF without both its starting cornerbacks and safeties, which will be a tall task as Baker Mayfield and the No. 1-seeded Buccaneers are expected to get some reinforcements for their 5-1 team.

Future Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans is expected to make his return from his nagging hamstring injury that kept him out of action for the past three weeks.

It has been speculated that emerging superstar and expected NFL Rookie of the Year wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) is aiming to play against the Lions in the marquee matchup.

Tampa Bay and Detroit have built a rivalry recently as the Lions have won two out of the last three matchups with the Buccaneers taking the last matchup 20-16 in Week 2 of the 2024 season.

This week’s inactive players have been announced.

The Lions will be without safety Brian Branchwho is serving a one-game suspension for slapping Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in Week 6.

Cornerback DJ Reed Jr. will miss the matchup as well due to a hamstring injury that left him on injured reserve.

Here’s the full injury report from Friday’s practice:

• Safety Kerby Joseph — out (knee).

• Cornerback Avonte Maddox — out (hamstring).

• Cornerback Terrion Arnold — out (shoulder).

• Running back Sione Vaki — out (groin).

• Offensive tackle Taylor Decker — questionable (shoulder).

• Defensive tackle Alim McNeill — questionable (knee).

• Nose tackle DJ Reader — questionable (back).

Kickoff is at 7 pm on ESPN.