Thanksgiving is that great time of year for getting family together, eating gluttonously, and watching lots of football. But the early game often gets shafted -- people are traveling or making chit-chat or peeling potatoes -- and it looks like injuries will rob us of some of the better players this year.
Kerryon Johnson (knee) almost certainly won't play for the Lions, leaving us with an unappetizing mix of running backs who don't actually run (Theo Riddick) or are painfully slow and unexciting at this point in their careers (LeGarrette Blount). Or Zach Zenner.
Lions also look unlikely to have Marvin Jones (knee). None of us will make the mistake of starting TJ Jones again, so it will instead be Bruce Ellington looking like the best bet to catch passes behind Kenny Golladay. Really tough matchup with the Bears, of course (especially for the ground game, as those who watched Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray struggle will attest), so not an ideal situation for any of these players.
Now comes word that Mitchell Trubisky has a shoulder injury, and might not be able to start for the Bears. In the link, Matt Nagy says "I'm staying cautiously optimistic, but I can't make any promises. I hope he does. He wants to play, I know that. We've got to make sure in these situations we're doing the right thing."
If I were hoping to start Trubisky, who's been fun to watch this year, particularly for his running (and throwing on the run), I would not be overly confident. Possible he plays, but also possible the Bears already know he won't, and are just employing some gamesmanship here. Time to make sure you have a backup plan -- and not Bears backup Chase Daniel.
If I were thinking of six players I'd want to see play in this game, three of them would be Kerryon Johnson, Trubisky and Marvin Jones. We'll get to see Tarik Cohen, Golladay and Matthew Stafford, and maybe the Bears will decide to throw a few bones the way of Trey Burton for the benefit of all of us forced to start him. But not as entertaining a matchup as it would be with everyone healthy.
--Andy Richardson