ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions will have to wait at
least one more week to get back their biggest defensive weapon,
Shaun Rogers.
Pro Bowl defensive tackle Rogers, who has missed the last four
games while serving a league-imposed substance-abuse suspension,
will not be activated for the Thanksgiving Day game against Miami.
Rogers underwent arthroscopic knee surgery during his time away
from the team, and hasn't recovered well enough to face former
teammate Joey Harrington and the Dolphins.
"He's a big man and they had to clean his knee out pretty
good," Lions coach Rod Marinelli said Tuesday. "He did some good
rehab work today, and we're very hopeful about next week."
The news wasn't much better for Detroit's other starting
defensive tackle, Shaun Cody. After missing several games with a
dislocated toe, Cody tried to play in Sunday's loss at Arizona, but
had to leave after aggravating the injury. He is doubtful for the
Dolphins game.
Several key members of the offense, including tailback Kevin
Jones, were listed as questionable on Tuesday's injury report, a
designation that Marinelli has often used for players that did not
play.
Marinelli didn't sound optimistic about Jones' chances for
Thanksgiving, but stressed the injury could have been worse.
"It's not a high ankle sprain, just an ankle sprain," he said.
"But you never know with ankles -- different players have different
responses."
Jones is not only the team's best runner, but his 50 catches are
second to Roy Williams among all Lions and second in the NFL among
running backs. To make matters worse, Jones' backups, Shawn Bryson
and Brian Calhoun, are out for the season with knee injuries.
If Jones can't play against the Dolphins, the Lions will use two
players who they cut and then brought back, Aveion Cason and Arlen
Harris.
Marinelli also announced Tuesday that little-used wide receiver
Mike Williams will play against the Dolphins. Two receivers -- Eddie
Drummond (concussion) and Devale Ellis (shoulder) -- are
questionable, making room for Williams, the 2005 first-round pick
who has not caught a pass in limited action this season.