The Detroit Lions are poised to kick off their journey toward the franchise’s first Super Bowl this Saturday as they face the rising Washington Commanders at Ford Field in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Having earned a bye last week after clinching the No. 1 seed in the conference, the Lions are coming into this game with high expectations. On the other side, the Commanders stunned the higher-seeded Tampa Bay Buccaneers, continuing their impressive run this season.
All eyes are on Detroit, and the pressure is squarely on them. After reaching the NFC Championship Game last season, there’s a clear expectation for the Lions to make a deep playoff run, and their historic 15-2 record this season has only intensified those hopes.
Ahead of Saturday night’s game, Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown shared a hype video on his Instagram, fueling the excitement among fans.
St. Brown, who is fully embracing the playoff atmosphere, had already hinted at his playoff tradition last week. He revealed that he’d dyed his hair blue for the occasion, just as he did the previous year. “Before camp, I was like ‘If we make the playoffs, I’m dyeing my hair,'” St. Brown recalled last season. “And sure enough…we made it…it wasn’t like a stress for us. So, I was like, f—. I’m a man of my word unlike others so I dyed my hair.”
Amon-Ra St. Brown just uploaded this awesome hype video on his IG story
PLAYOFF MODE ACTIVATED 🔥#OnePride pic.twitter.com/OBG7GnRiku
— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔦𝔱 𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 📰 (@the_det_times) January 17, 2025
Following a standout 2023 season, which earned him a contract extension, St. Brown has continued to impress, posting 115 receptions, 1,263 yards, and 12 touchdowns—numbers that ranked among the top five in the NFL.
While the Lions are heavily favored in this matchup, experts caution against underestimating the Commanders. They’ve already proven their ability to pull off surprises, and head coach Dan Campbell and the Lions are fully aware that this game will be anything but easy.
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Detroit Lions Shorthanded with 2 Starting Offensive Linemen Missing from Practice
The Detroit Lions were missing some crucial players at Thursday’s practice ahead of the divisional round matchup. Offensive guard Kevin Zeitler (hamstring) and left tackle Taylor Decker were not present during the portion of practice open to reporters. Zeitler, who suffered the hamstring injury and didn’t return during the season finale against the Minnesota Vikings, was listed as a non-participant following the team’s walkthrough to kick off the week. As for Decker, his absence from Thursday’s session is labeled as “personal,” with no specific injury reported.
While Zeitler’s status remains uncertain, Decker was previously listed as a full participant and wasn’t given any designation heading into the week.
Also absent were cornerback Ennis Rakestraw (hamstring/illness) and defensive lineman Pat O’Connor (calf). Rakestraw had his 21-day return window activated last week, and missing consecutive practices could be a concerning sign for his recovery.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell expressed doubt about O’Connor’s availability, indicating that his injury appears to be more severe than Zeitler’s or cornerback Terrion Arnold’s injuries. Speaking of Arnold, he’s been back at practice, fully participating so far this week. Arnold is dealing with a foot contusion, but it is considered day-to-day.
On a positive note, David Montgomery has also returned to practice and is expected to be available for the upcoming game against the Washington Commanders. Both Montgomery and Arnold were full participants on Thursday, indicating they’re progressing well.
