The Detroit Lions received both good and bad news on the injury front ahead of their Sunday night matchup at Ford Field against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After being sidelined on Thursday, rookie receiver Kenny Golladay was once again absent late Friday with an injured hamstring. Despite earlier expectations, it appears as though he likely won’t be ready to play against Pittsburgh.
However, for the third straight day, Golden Tate has practiced and is getting closer to being cleared to play. His injury that he suffered against the New Orleans Saints two weeks ago may not have been as costly as originally though, as Detroit’s bye week was immediately next on their schedule.
Tate wants to get back out there to help the team as soon as possible, but acknowledged that decision isn’t ultimately up to him.
“I feel OK,” Tate explained on Thursday. “Just taking it day by day, trying to get better, trying to get back on the field as fast as possible. Just trying to trust the process, and do whatever I can to get back on the field.
“Obviously I’d love to be out there, but it’s going to be the trainers’ and coach (Jim) Caldwell’s decision at the end of the day. I’m just trying to get this shoulder where it needs to be. I don’t know what to expect. I’ve never had a shoulder injury like this, so I don’t really know. I’m just doing the treatment like they want me to do, doing the best job I can, and just trying to get back as soon as I can.”
Meanwhile, Brian Mihalik is expected to get the start at left tackle as Chris Burke of The Athletic tweeted.
Based on what we've seen of #Lions practices…
– Tate will be a game-time call, at worst
– Golladay probably won't play
– Mihalik is the LT— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurkeNFL) October 27, 2017
