Thursdayβs Detroit Lions injury report contains one piece of very good news, one situation that hasnβt changed, and one starter who remains worth monitoring.
The headline is D.J. Wonnum. After missing Wednesdayβs practice because of a back injury, the veteran EDGE returned as a full participant Thursday, an encouraging development three days before Detroitβs Sunday night matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
Meanwhile, offensive lineman Ben Bartch missed practice for the second consecutive day with his lingering foot injury. Starting cornerback D.J. Reed remained limited because of a rib injury.
Here is the official Week 4 injury report through Thursday:
Detroit Lions Thursday Injury Report
| Player | Position | Injury | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Bartch | OL | Foot | NP | NP | β | β |
| D.J. Reed | CB | Rib | LP | LP | β | β |
| D.J. Wonnum | EDGE | Back | NP | FP | β | β |
NP = Did Not Participate | LP = Limited Participation | FP = Full Participation
Wonnum Makes the Move Detroit Wanted
Wonnum was the biggest question when Detroitβs initial Week 4 injury report arrived Wednesday. He had just recorded two sacks, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hits against the Jets, only to open Panthers week sidelined by a back injury.
One day later, the concern has eased considerably.
A full practice doesnβt guarantee Wonnum will play Sunday, and Detroit wonβt provide final game designations until Friday. But moving directly from NP to FP is about as encouraging a Thursday development as the Lions could have hoped for.
It also carries a little extra meaning this week. Wonnum spent the previous two seasons with Carolina before joining Detroit, and his Lions biography confirms he arrived in Detroit after playing for the Panthers from 2024-25.
Detroit already received an indication earlier Thursday that Wonnum was trending in the right direction when he returned to the practice field. The official report provided an even better update: He didnβt merely participate. He practiced fully.
Bartch Remains the Bigger Concern
Bartchβs situation is moving in the opposite direction, or more accurately, not moving at all.
The veteran offensive lineman has now missed both practices this week because of the same foot injury that kept him out of Detroitβs victory over the Jets. Detroitβs official player log shows Bartch started against Buffalo in Week 2 before sitting out last Sundayβs 31-24 win.
That doesnβt automatically rule him out against Carolina, but Friday becomes important. If Bartch canβt get onto the practice field before Detroit leaves for Charlotte, the Lions could again be preparing to play without him.
What the Detroit Lions Injury Report Means for Sunday
Reedβs status falls somewhere between Wonnum and Bartch.
The veteran corner has been limited on consecutive days with a rib injury, but he has at least remained on the field. With Fridayβs final report still to come, there is no game designation attached to Reed yet.
For now, Thursday represents a net positive for Detroit.
The injury report remains only three players long, Reed continues practicing, and Wonnum went from completely sidelined to full participation in 24 hours.
Considering how these injury reports have looked at various points over the last couple of seasons, the Lions will happily take that.
