Josh

Paschal

Decker will now miss his third game since Week 10 and was entirely unable to practice this week. Hopefully, the team is just taking the conservative route and Decker will be readily available for the stretch run later this season. The Lions will be woefully short-staffed in the defensive trenches, having also ruled out DL Josh Paschal (knee), DL Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring) and DL DJ Reader (shoulder).

Reader picked up the shoulder injury last week and appears iffy for Thursday night’s game against the Packers. He’s one of several Detroit defensive starters in doubt for Week 14. DL Josh Pascal (knee) missed Tuesday’s practice, as did DL Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring). The Lions’ defensive injuries could be a boon for Jordan Love and the Green Bay offense on a short week.

Rapoport adds, “Paschal’s knee injury is considered minor.” The Lions should get their rotational DE back soon but it would be unsurprising to see them sign a rotational veteran player from another team’s practice squad.

This will be the second-straight missed game for Rodriguez, who suffered an ankle injury in Week 7. There’s a chance he could return for Week 10 against the Texans, but the Lions will be short two key players with Rodriguez and Paschal both out. The Lions’ defense could have its work cut out for them against a mostly-healthy Packers offense.

That’s not exactly glowing news for Decker, who has missed four-straight practices leading up to Sunday’s game. If he’s unable to play, the Lions would likely designate Matt Nelson, who is listed behind Decker on the depth chart, as the team’s Week 2 starter. The Lions also ruled out DE Josh Paschal (knee) for Sunday’s contest after he suffered an injury on Thursday.

Paschal was ruled out of the team’s mandatory minicamp with a “lower extremity injury” in June, but Campbell revealed ahead of camp that he’s dealing with a “version” of a sports hernia. Outside of saying that he’s “progressing” with his recovery, Campbell didn’t offer a timetable for Paschal’s return but alluded to him being out for “a little bit”.

Okwara is recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in October and hadn’t been participating in mini-camp, no real surprise there. Paschal was dealing with a vague “lower extremity” injury that limited him early in the offseason. Jacobs is recovering from an ACL tear in December.

Paschal is currently dealing with a “lower extremity injury.” He was held out of OTAs and minicamp, so his status during training camp will be something to look out for. In his final season at Kentucky, Paschal tallied 15.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks while being named second-team All-American.

Before this announcement, Paschal was already missing time at the OTAs due to said “lower extremity injury.” Paschal was selected by the Lions with the 46th overall pick in this year’s draft, as they continue to rebuild in their second season under Dan Campbell. In his last season at Kentucky, Paschal totaled 53 tackles, 15.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks while being named second-team All-American.

Despite being heavily recruited, Paschal (6’3/268) opted to go to Kentucky where his older brother played. He redshirted in 2018 after discovering a cancerous melanoma on his left foot and still managed to appear in three games despite going through extensive therapy throughout the season. He landed on NFL Draft radars last year when he racked up 53 tackles, 15.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, and an elite 90.0 PFF grade while receiving second-team All-American recognition. He generated pressure from both the inside and outside while suffocating ball carriers with 41 stops (fourth in FBS) and an efficient 9.4 percent missed tackle rate. His rocked-up frame and powerful lower body led to Paschal posting a 37.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-3 broad jump, both 93rd percentile marks, to go with a blazing 1.57 10-yard split which helps contextualize the rapid acceleration of his get off. He thrives when engaging blockers thanks to vice grip-like hands and is dogged in his pursuit of rushers in the backfield. Though he doesn’t possess the raw speed to consistently turn the corner, his instincts and brute strength allow him to push the pocket. A high-character player who is revered by coaches and players alike, Paschal is a versatile edge who shuts down the run and has the frame to put on weight and kick inside.