Running back Ameer Abdullah sat out last Sunday's game in Tampa Bay with a neck injury.
Despite a national report that his inactive status was performance based, head coach Jim Caldwell confirmed it was an injury issue.
"No, Ameer is health issues," Caldwell said Monday." Hopefully he'll be alright this week. I don't answer any report other than what you see on our reports."
Abdullah said he felt he probably could have played vs. the Buccaneers, but trusts in the coach's decision.
"Yeah, probably," Abdullah said. "That's a coach's call. That's never in my hands. If the coaches felt like it's the best direction, and maybe they know something I don't. I'm always going to trust that and follow behind the leader of this team (Caldwell)."
Barring any setback on the injury front, it seems likely Abdullah will be available and active for Saturday's division game vs. the Bears at Ford Field.
"Looking forward to getting Ameer back," offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said Wednesday. "Hopefully that's this week. Hopefully all that goes well. He's been a good player for us before and I think he can help our offense get better. So, we're excited to get him back. I'm sure he's excited to be back, if and when that is this Saturday, ready to get rolling with him."
BEARS REMATCH
After a very close 27-24 victory over the Bears in Chicago earlier this season, the Lions know better than to take this division foe lightly.
The Bears have a lot of young talent, and they have a lot of pride. It doesn't matter where they fall in the NFC North standings, they're coming to Detroit looking for a win.
"Our approach has been, it's the final quarter of the season, and we took this approach a week ago going to Cincinnati," Bears head coach John Fox said in a conference-call interview with the Detroit media. "Division opponent (the Lions). Division rival.
"My experience is always, the records kind of go out the window, and I think these guys are pros. They have a lot of pride, and we want to finish this season off strong."
SEASON OF GIVING
The Lions got into the giving spirit of the holidays this week, hosting events in the community.
On Monday, the team hosted their annual Shop with a Lion event. Kids and players roamed the aisles of Meijer having fun and holiday shopping.
And then on Tuesday, the Lions teamed up with Warrick Dunn's Homes of the Holidays program to stock and furnish a family's new home. Check out the look on their faces when they walked into the door of their new home for the first time:
OTHER NOTEWORTHY ITEMS:
- Is Quandre Diggs' move to safety permanent? Tim Twentyman covers that and more in his latest 10 Questions column.
- Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata was among the eight finalists announced for the 2017 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
- The Lions are missing rookie return man Jamal Angew's big-play potential, but hopefully not for much longer.
- Watch guard T.J. Lang sit down with safety Glover Quin for the 12th episode of Talkin' With T.J.
- You asked. Now watch linebacker Tahir Whitehead answer your fan-submitted questions in this week's #AskALion episode.
