David Chao, MD
2 min read • August 05, 2022
Posted in
2021 record: 3-13-1 | 2022 FanDuel O/U win total: 6.5
For the second consecutive Draft, the Lions held a top-7 pick and eschewed drafting a quarterback for taking a blue-ship linemen, following up 2021 selection Penei Sewell with edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
Their No. 2 selection followed a campaign in which Detroit was without its franchise left tackle, No. 1 cornerback, and top-end tight end for much of the season.
The Lion’s lost the first of their in Week 1 when cornerback Jeff Okudah suffered a non-contact ruptured Achilles tendon and underwent season-ending surgery for the second time in his two-year career.
The former No. 3 overall pick has been a full-go in the first few days of training camp and looks physically impressive, according to reports.
Starting defensive end Romero Okwara also suffered an Achilles tendon tear in Week 4 of last season and could return in time for the regular season.
Left tackle Taylor Decker missed the first eight games after suffering a finger injury ahead of Week 1 but was able to return for the second half of the season.
T.J. Hockenson has been a full participant in offseason programs after undergoing season-ending thumb surgery last suffered a thumb injury in Week 13 and underwent season-ending surgery but has been a full participant at training camp.
DeAndre Swift missed four games with a shoulder sprain in the middle of what was otherwise a solid sophomore season for the dual-threat running back.
Jared Goff’s two newest targets, Jameson Williams and DJ Chark Jr., are both coming off of significant injuries but only Williams was placed on the PUP list.
Hockenson comes into his all-important fourth season fully healthy, according to the Pro Football Docs, after undergoing surgery to repair a likely thumb avulsion fracture that damaged the bone and the ligament.
Before the injury, Hockenson was on pace to set new career-highs with 61 catches, 585 yards, and four touchdowns working in a mostly anemic passing offense.
Hockenson has projected as an elite fantasy tight end since going as the No. 8 overall pick in 2019 and he will be in a position to take that leap in 2022.
Similar to Hockenson, Swift has been on the doorstep of breaking out in his first few years and has a clean bill of health for the 2022 season.
Swift suffered an AC joint sprain on Thanksgiving and missed four games, although the Pro Football Docs believe that he could have played through the injury but was held out until he was fully recovered.
Despite missing a quarter of the season, Swift logged 213 touches for 1,069 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns and finished as a top-20 back in PPR and half-PPR fantasy leagues.
Decker was able to return from his preseason finger injury in Week 10 and logged a 75.5 overall and an 84.0 pass-block grade from PFF in the next eight games.
The 6’7”, 318-pound behemoth suffered a foot injury in the season finale that kept him out through OTAs, but the Pro Football Docs believe he has fully recovered from both injuries and should return to the level of play that earned him a $60 million contract.
Okudah is tracking to be available Week 1 nearly a year to the day since suffering his torn Achilles tendon, while Okwara will trail at least a month behind, helping contribute to the 15-point difference in the SIC scores. Okudah is still in a position to produce for Detroit, but he will be limited as he regains strength in his lower left leg.
Okudah has started only seven games since the Lions drafted him No. 3 overall in 2020 and has undergone season-ending surgeries on his Achilles in September 2021 and a lingering core muscle surgery in December 2020.
Detroit took the lanky Alabama receiver with the No. 12 overall pick despite Williams likely being unavailable or ineffective for most of his rookie season after tearing his ACL in January.
Once he does return, Williams will work alongside Chark Jr., who the Pro Football Docs say will be fully recovered from the left ankle fracture he suffered late last September.
Written by David Chao, MD
