A short week, a pivotal NFC matchup, and the Detroit Lions’ top receiver in question. Amon-Ra St. Brown exited the Thanksgiving loss to the Green Bay Packers with a low ankle sprain and did not practice on Monday. Now the Lions must weigh availability against risk with the Dallas Cowboys coming to Detroit on Thursday night.
The team’s decision will hinge on how the ankle responds during abbreviated preparations and whether the mini bye after Week 14 is used to prioritize a longer recovery.
Latest On Amon-Ra St. Brown Injury Update
St. Brown’s injury has been described as a low ankle sprain, not a high ankle sprain, which reduces long-term concern but still threatens short-term availability. He missed Monday’s practice, an early indication that the staff is evaluating whether a rapid ramp-up is feasible before the final injury report is released.
His importance to Detroit’s offence needs to be acknowledged. Entering Thanksgiving, he had 75 receptions for 884 yards and nine touchdowns across 11 games, and losing him in the game forced changes to the passing distribution against Green Bay. Reporting also notes the schedule provides a mini bye after Thursday, creating a strategic incentive to rest if healing lags.
St. Brown leads the Lions in receptions, yards, and touchdowns this season, hauling in 75 catches for 884 yards and nine scores. He also ranks fourth in PFSN’s WR Impact metric, earning an impressive 87.9 rating.
Is Amon-Ra St. Brown Playing vs. Cowboys?
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said St. Brown has a chance to play this week, but he also adds that it is possible the Lions could hold the star receiver out with a mini bye coming after Week 14 to give him more time to get right.
“Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown’s status for Thursday’s game against the Cowboys is up in the air because of the ankle injury,” Pelissero reported.
From @gmfb: The latest on Justin Herbert, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Terrion Arnold, who is out for the season. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/az6iUaND8j
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 2, 2025
“It looked really bad at the time, but as I reported the next day, it’s a low-ankle sprain. There’s even a possibility that Amon-Ra St. Brown could be back this week. However, it’s going to depend in part on how that ankle is healing, and also on the schedule. Lions don’t play another game until Dec. 14. It’s possible they could just decide to hold him back, giving him an extra 10 days to recover. We’ll get his final status on Wednesday,” Pelissero concluded.
St. Brown did not practice on Tuesday, either, and gave an update on his status. “I’m not sure right now, if I’m being honest,” the Lions star said. “It’s still up in the air. I’ma try to be out there for the guys, for my teammates, but I couldn’t answer that question right now.”
If St. Brown sits, recent usage suggests Jameson Williams would see elevated targets again. In St. Brown’s absence last week, Williams recorded seven receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets, a season high that reflects Detroit’s willingness to funnel perimeter looks to him when WR1 is unavailable.
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That pivot becomes more pronounced if other pass-catching injuries linger, and it aligns with how the Lions kept the game competitive despite the loss in Green Bay.
The stakes are considerable for the NFC North and the Wild Card race. Divisional math and projections highlight how Detroit’s playoff odds could swing with Thursday’s result, and analysis emphasizes the on-off splits associated with St. Brown’s presence.
Detroit’s offence ranks far higher in efficiency and yards per play with St. Brown on the field compared to when he is not, and the Week 14 forecast includes tougher opponent form as Dallas arrives on a three-game winning streak.
Detroit’s decision will crystallize with practice updates and the final injury report on Wednesday, balancing the risk of a short week with the extra recovery time that begins on Friday.