The Detroit Lions will be without their top three safeties when they visit SoFi Stadium on Sunday to play the Los Angeles Rams.
Already down Brian Branch (Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee), the Lions on Saturday downgraded Thomas Harper (brain) from questionable to out. Harper suffered a concussion in the first quarter of Detroit’s win over the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 4. He practiced all week, but was evidently unable to clear every hurdle of concussion protocol.
Avonte Maddox, who stepped in after Harper left against the Cowboys and played well, is in line to make his first start with the Lions. It’s unclear who will be next to him, but options include Daniel Thomas, Jalen Mills and Erick Hallett II.
Hallett was elevated from the practice squad, as was tight end Giovanni Ricci. Branch was officially placed on injured reserve, an unsurprising move. Taking his spot on the roster is tight end Shane Zylstra, who had been on IR since Sept. 16.
Offensive lineman Christian Mahogany (fibula) was also downgraded from questionable to out, but that was more expected, given his recent return to practice. Asked this week when he hoped to get back on the field for a game, Mahogany said either this Sunday or the following week versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.
rsilva@gannett.com
@rich_silva18