The Green Bay Packers defense was already down several key players against the Detroit Lions for their Thursday night game in All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander, rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and cornerback Corey Ballentine.
The injury list got bigger for the Packers when they lost rookie safety Evan Williams in the first half to injury. Defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness also injured his right thumb early in the game, requiring an X-ray in the locker room. But he returned on the Lions' late second-quarter touchdown before the half.
The injuries to the many defensive players on the Lions heading into the game generated many of the headlines.