Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is facing an important decision as the team heads into its final game of the 2025–26 NFL season. Like many star players in Week 18, St. Brown and the Lions must weigh health against competitiveness — especially with no playoff berth on the line for Detroit.
Will Amon-Ra St. Brown Play in Week 18?
St. Brown has already shown he’s willing to push through adversity. He surprised many by suiting up against the Dallas Cowboys in December after dealing with an ankle injury that kept him questionable all week. The result was electric:
6 receptions
92 receiving yards
Helped Detroit earn a 44–30 win
That performance also made history. According to ESPN research, St. Brown set an NFL record for most receptions in a player’s first five seasons, further cementing his status as one of the league’s elite receivers.
Now, the Lions face the Chicago Bears on Sunday, January 4, in a road matchup that carries vastly different stakes for each team.
Injury Update: St. Brown Trending Toward Playing
Detroit enters the matchup eliminated from playoff contention, while Chicago has already clinched the NFC North and is fighting for the No. 2 seed in the NFC. If the Lions hope to spoil the Bears’ postseason positioning, they’ll likely need St. Brown on the field.
The Pro Bowl wideout did not practice on Wednesday, December 31, due to knee and ankle issues. However, there was encouraging news on Thursday, January 1, when St. Brown was listed as a limited participant, suggesting he is trending toward playing.
Detroit’s injury report remains lengthy, with 11 players listed, but there was progress elsewhere:
Alex Anzalone (LB) – limited participant
Thomas Harper (S) – limited participant
Christian Mahogany (LG) – limited participant
All three had missed practice the previous day.
Bears Playing for Seeding as Ben Johnson Faces Former Team
While the Lions are playing for pride, the Bears are playing for positioning. Despite already securing the division, Chicago is pushing hard for the No. 2 seed in the NFC, which would bring significant playoff advantages.
Former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, now with Chicago, made it clear he’s not resting starters.
“We’re constantly improving. That’s the goal, at least,” Johnson said Wednesday. “We’re going to stay true to our process throughout this thing. This is the next one.”
Johnson also emphasized the importance of momentum heading into the postseason.
“You don’t want to go into the postseason with two losses in a row. You want to have a little momentum behind you.”
Final Outlook
With the Bears playing at full strength and postseason stakes looming on their side, the decision surrounding Amon-Ra St. Brown’s availability becomes even more significant. If he plays, Detroit has a real chance to play spoiler. If not, the Lions may prioritize health as they turn the page toward 2026.
Either way, all eyes will be on St. Brown as Detroit closes out a frustrating but revealing season against a familiar foe.
