Today at 1:00 p.m. ET the New Orleans Saints (2-3), fresh off a bye week, will head to Detroit to take on the Lions (4-2) and their top-ranked defense on Fox. Live stream the game by clicking this link; Saints fans can hear the radio broadcast on WWL 870, while Lions fans may do the same on WXYT 1270.
This matchup in the preseason promised to be a heavyweight matchup of top offenses, but injuries are threatening the potency of both passing attacks. The Lions will likely be without star wide receiver Calvin Johnson, while New Orleans may have to forge ahead this week without tight end Jimmy Graham.
While Johnson is almost assuredly out while he nurses his injured ankle to full strength, Saints coach Sean Payton said Graham was able to do more in practice on Thursday than expected. "We're still optimistic on him," Payton said.
Having Graham in the lineup will be important for Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who hasn't had his usual success in 2014. The last time fans saw Brees, in a Week 5 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he had thrown three interceptions bringing his 2014 total to six. Brees has been picked off in four of his five games thus far, and has yet to throw more than two touchdowns in any single game.
This week won't be easy though, as the Lions defense has been a terror all season. Per FootballOutsiders.com the Lions rank first against the pass and third vs. the run.
Brees' counterpart Matthew Stafford has also experienced a dip in his production, throwing for 416 yards and just two touchdowns in his last two games. Part of that can be blamed on Johnson's injury, but overall his yards per game has dropped by 25.
Saints Injury Report
Ramon Humber LB Ankle Did Not Participate In Practice Out Kyle Knox LB Ankle Did Not Participate In Practice Out Jonathan Goodwin C Knee Full Participation in Practice Probable Mark Ingram RB Hand Full Participation in Practice Probable Erik Lorig RB Ankle Full Participation in Practice Probable Keenan Lewis CB Toe Limited Participation in Practice Probable Ronald Powell LB Illness Limited Participation in Practice Probable Charles Thomas RB Illness Limited Participation in Practice Probable Patrick Robinson CB Hamstring Did Not Participate In Practice Questionable Jimmy Graham TE Shoulder Limited Participation in Practice Questionable
Lions Injury Report
Eric Ebron TE Hamstring Did Not Participate In Practice Doubtful Theo Riddick RB Hamstring Did Not Participate In Practice Doubtful Joseph Fauria TE Ankle Did Not Participate In Practice Out Travis Lewis LB Quadricep Did Not Participate In Practice Out Reggie Bush RB Ankle Full Participation in Practice Probable Jeremy Ross WR Ankle Full Participation in Practice Probable Ezekiel Ansah DE Toe Limited Participation in Practice Probable Calvin Johnson WR Ankle Did Not Participate In Practice Questionable
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