The Lions will be without two key starters on offense and another on defense Sunday against the Patriots.
Detroit has officially ruled out running back D'Andre Swift and wide receiver DJ Chark for the second straight game and will also be missing defensive end Charles Harris.
It's a bit of surprise in regard to Chark, who practiced on Thursday and said that his ailing ankle was feeling "10 times better" than it was a week ago. But Chark missed practice Friday after an apparent setback. It's the same ankle that he fractured last season.
Swift, who's nursing a sprained ankle and a sprained shoulder, will likely return after Detroit's Week 6 bye.
Harris, the Lions' sack leader last season, popped up on the practice report Thursday with a groin injury and missed practice Friday. His absence will pose another problem for the worst defense in the NFL.
On the bright side, star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and Pro Bowl guard Jonah Jackson are trending toward playing on Sunday. St. Brown returned to practice Friday after missing last week's game with an ankle injury and Jackson was a full participant after missing the past three games with a finger injury. Both are officially listed as questionable.
Tight end T.J. Hockenson, center Frank Ragnow and left tackle Taylor Decker all practiced Friday and are good to go for Sunday.