Head coach Matt Patricia announced Monday at his press conference that the Lions placed wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (knee) on Reserve/Injured.
"We'll adapt with whatever we've got to do as far as the latest injuries, whatever they are," Patricia said. "We have to figure it out, roll with the next guy in there and see how it goes."
Wide receiver Kenny Golladay has played well in a No. 1 role, and will have to continue to do so down the stretch.
"Kenny's done a good job all year," Patricia said. "It's something we've talked about probably going back to the spring. Identified his ability and the skillset we think can help us win in certain situations.
"I think he continually evolves. That's something that he's going to have to just kind of keep getting used to and preparing for."
The Lions will also need the rest of the wide receivers on the roster to step up in Jones' absence, including the recently acquired Bruce Ellington, who has been making the most of his opportunity in Detroit so far.
"It's a credit to Bruce," wide receivers coach Robert Prince said Monday of the contribution Ellington has made. "What we did is, we looked at some of his previous film and saw some of the plays he was able to run at other places. We saw kind of the things he can do.
"We incorporated those things that he did. He did a nice job of learning the game plan. We didn't overwhelm him at first.
"Being an explosive athlete does help him create separation. He does have great quickness. Obviously, he's a great athlete."
AGNEW RETURNS TO PRACTICE
It's not all bad news for the Lions in terms of injuries though. Cornerback and return man Jamal Agnew returned to practice this week.
Agnew was placed on IR earlier this season with a knee injury. Now that he's back at practice, the Lions could activate him for the game in Buffalo Dec. 16.
"I'm feeling pretty great," Agnew said this week. "Still taking it day by day. Itching to get back out there, as you guys probably can imagine. Injuries happen, but that's the name of the game. We sign up for that, so just got to deal with it.
"My thought process was, 'What can I do to get back as soon as possible?' Their decision was to put me on IR designated to return and I took it with a grain of salt. I saw it as a challenge. Coming back from a serious injury is pretty challenging mentally and physically. I just got myself ready for the whole roller coaster of emotions and that whole marathon.
"Right now mentally I'm in a good place, physically and mentally, and I feel great."
GETTING READY FOR THE RAMS
The Lions have a tough test this week as the 10-1 Los Angeles Rams come to town.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford knows the Lions need to execute if they're going to keep up with them.
"I just think we have to execute better," Stafford said in front of his locker Thursday. "That's what it boils down to. They've scored on offense, they've scored on defense and special teams. All of it. It's going to take a complete team game from us to go out there and play well enough to win."
The Rams could also be getting a big boost to their defense with the return of cornerback Aqib Talib. Talib missed the last nine weeks with an ankle injury, but was designated for return Monday.
"I feel good," Talib told ESPN after participating in a walkthrough Monday. "The only way you're going to know if you're ready for a game is playing in the game. I'm as good as I can be as far as working out without playing, without competing."
For Mike O'Hara's full scouting report on the Rams, click here.
OTHER NOTEWORTHY ITEMS
- Click here for the full Lions-Rams injury report and game designations.
- Watch as Sydney James, a Detroit artist, designs cleats for linebacker Devon Kennard and defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois.
- Catch up on all the news from Jim Bob Cooter and Paul Pasqualoni's Monday press conferences.
- The numbers show how defensive tackle Damon Harrison is making a huge difference in the Lions' run defense.
