Heading into their home game against the Atlanta Falcons Sunday, the Detroit Lions faced the prospect of possibly being without top receiver and team captain Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown suffered a toe injury in last week’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks and missed Wednesday’s practice. And while he returned to practice Thursday, he was still listed as questionable for the game against the Falcons. But Brown said after practice Friday he was feeling good, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that Brown is “optimistic” he can suit up for this game:
#Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, questionable with a toe issue, is optimistic that he'll be able to play today, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 24, 2023
Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com got some comments from Brown on the specific injury at play here following practice Friday:
St. Brown said Friday he injured the toe in the third quarter last week when his foot got bent back following a catch and tackle.
…”It was sore after the game. Really sore,” St. Brown said in the locker room after practice Friday. “But it’s been getting better every day. I’m excited and happy that it’s nothing too serious.”
He said the injury is not turf toe but rather a bruised bone in the toe. He plans to play Sunday with a steel plate in his shoe so his toe can’t bend as much.
…”I had one in high school I used to play with all the time, so I’m used to it,” he said.
Having St. Brown available would certainly be a boost for the Lions. He finished last week’s game against the Seahawks despite that injury, collecting six catches for a team-high 102 yards in Detroit’s 37-31 overtime loss. Through two games, he has 12 catches for 173 yards, both tops on the team. (And he also pulled off the Hingle McCringleberry sketch from Key and Peele to celebrate his touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1.) The Lions are dealing with several other offensive injuries, too, so a strong performance from Brown might go a long way against the 2-0 Falcons.
[DetroitLions.com, Ian Rapoport on Twitter]
