Lions injury updates on Alim McNeill, Carlton Davis, David Montgomery

On December 17, 2024By Littum

The Detroit Lions suffered massive injuries in Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills, losing three starters (cornerback Carlton Davis III, defensive tackle Alim McNeill and running back David Montgomery) and one of their best special teams players (gunner Khalil Dorsey) to season-ending or potentially season-ending injuries.

Here’s everything Lions coach Dan Campbell had to say about those and other injuries at his day-after news conference Monday.

RB David Montgomery

Montgomery injured his right knee in the first half Sunday and played through the pain. He underwent testing Monday that revealed an MCL injury, and while the Lions’ second-leading rusher is still evaluating his options, he could be done for the year.

“It looks like he’s going to require surgery that will put him out for the rest of the year,” Campbell said. “He had it at some point yesterday in that game. I mean, David is so tough, man. He kept playing through and then got it checked out today and realized that’s what it was.

“He’s just the ultimate teammate, ultimate competitor. We’re going to miss him, man. He’s another one of those guys that got us to this position, helped get us to where we are and the rest of us we owe it to him to continue and make sure it wasn’t in vain.”

CB Carlton Davis III

Davis broke his jaw in the first half of Sunday’s game and will require surgery, sidelining him indefinitely, according to ESPN. The NFL Network reported that the earliest Davis could return is the NFC Championship Game.

Campbell said the Lions are discussing how best to configure their secondary in Davis’ absence.

On Monday, on whether he expected Davis to miss the rest of the season, Campbell said: “Not sure about that one. Not sure how long it’s going to be, I just know I’m not seeing him in the near future (he will return).

DT Alim McNeill and DB Khalil Dorsey

McNeill tore his ACL and will undergo season-ending surgery, a source told the Free Press early Monday.

Campbell said he hopes his team rallies around Davis, McNeill and Dorsey, who immediately underwent surgery to repair his broken leg after being transported to the hospital during the game.

“Mac is out this year,” Campbell said. “He’s got a knee injury that’s going to require surgery. Dorsey had his last night. CD, he’s got a jaw, he’s going to be out. So those guys helped us get to this point, so we owe it to them. They put it’s at stake for us.”

DBs Ifeatu Melifonwu and Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

Campbell said he expects the Lions to open Melifonwu’s 21-day return to practice window this week, though it’s too early to know if he’ll be able to contribute in this weekend’s game against the Chicago Bears.

Melifonwu has not played this season. He missed the start of the year with an Achilles injury, then broke his ring finger returning to practice from his first IR layoff.

Rakestraw remains on IR with a hamstring injury and is not yet ready to return, Campbell said.

“I see (Melifonwu’s) clock start and then it’s, ‘Well, OK, that’s good. We’ll get him out for practice. Do we think he could help us as early as Sunday?'” Campbell said. “I don’t know right now and I don’t want to until we get him out there and running around a little bit.”

AND Graham Glasgow

Glasgow was one of the last players in the Lions locker room on Sunday after having X-rays after the game. He played all 79 offensive snaps against the Bills and avoided serious injury.

“He’s a little sore, but he came out fine,” Campbell said.

Dave Birkett is the author of the new book, “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline.” Order your copy here. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.