ALLEN PARK -- Alex Anzalone is back at practice for the first time in six weeks.
But the Detroit Lions linebacker sounds unsure if he’ll be able to play in this weekend’s winner-take-all game against the Minnesota Vikings. Anzalone has practiced only twice since breaking his forearm against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10. He and the Lions are trying to find the right time to let him loose.
Anzalone underwent surgery for his injury and has a steel plate inserted in his forearm. While being back at practice is a step in the right direction, he went through a walkthrough and an unpadded session, so it’s still unsure how his injury will react to live and fully-padded reps.
On the bright side, the captain was listed as a full participant on Thursday.
But Anzalone said it’s a collaborative process between how he feels and what the potential risk of re-injuring his forearm. Anzalone went through this injury while at Florida, too, and said he didn’t make it back in time this quickly.
“That’s another thing, is like, I haven’t tackled anyone to the ground,” Anzalone said. “I’ve done some drills and tried to simulate it as much as possible. It’s just one of those things, it’s like, ‘How do you feel?’
“It’s a collaborative effort. They do a really good job in the training room, our team docs. They don’t really try to put us in crazy harm’s way, obviously, that there are risks of playing with injury, coming back, but at the same time, they do a really good job of getting you ready and putting you out there prepared and when they feel comfortable. I think part of my voice and how I feel definitely goes into it, but that’s really it.”
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One major factor in this decision is that the Lions are already clinched for the postseason. Yes, this Week 18 winner-take-all game is as big as it gets. Still, for a veteran like Anzalone, the chances of re-injuring the forearm and missing a potential run to the Super Bowl weigh heavy and are part of the tough call ahead.
Anzalone said, like most players this time of the season, he’s not 100% and likely won’t be until the offseason or reporting for training camp.
“The thought process? I think that you just think about–for me personally,” Anzalone said. “Obviously, the doctors and the trainers, they go through what the risks are -- waiting a week, waiting two weeks, going through practice, maybe letting it spin next week or the week after that or this week.
“So I think that for me personally, I think it’s like, ‘OK, say if something did happen, would I be OK not playing in the Super Bowl?’ So I think that’s kind of the decision I have to make in my own head, and is it worth it? How do I feel going over these next few practices? And go from there, because I haven’t practiced in six weeks. So, I’m just using my arm and seeing how it goes.”
This defense has sorely missed the linebacker, no doubt. As injuries have continued to mount, Anzalone’s absence has been notable.
The Buffalo Bills hit this group hard, using a scrambling quarterback and leaking running backs and tight ends to eat them alive. And the San Francisco 49ers fed tight end George Kittle a hefty load on the way to 400 passing yards -- the most Detroit has surrendered all season.
But, when asked about questions about whether Detroit’s defense is good enough to win a Super Bowl, Anzalone said, “That’s bull(expletive).”
“It’s just one of those things that we have to do our part and limit points, and that’s the No. 1 goal as a defense,” Anzalone said. “We haven’t been doing that recently, but at the same time, to say we’re not good enough to win the Super Bowl, I think that’s pretty dumb.”
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