Lions guard Jackson, tight end Wright expected to miss NFC Championship with injuries

Detroit — The Detroit Lions lost guard Jonah Jackson and tight end Brock Wright to injury in Sunday's 31-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and both are unlikely to play in next weekend's NFC Championship matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

Jackson removed himself from the game in the second quarter with a knee injury and was immediately led to the locker room by a member of the team's medical staff. Shortly after, he was ruled as questionable to return, before eventually being downgraded to out.

Jackson was replaced by Kayode Awosika, who made three starts in place of Jackson earlier in the year. Jackson has had a rough year with injuries, previously missing time with a high-ankle sprain and jammed wrist. He was also sidelined four games in 2022 after breaking a finger on his punch hand during practice.

A fourth-year veteran, Jackson immediately entered the starting lineup as a third-round draft pick in 2020. He's gone on to start 57 games in four seasons. He's scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.

As for Wright, who missed the final three games of the regular season with a hip injury, he suffered a broken forearm in the second half and is almost certainly done for the year.

Detroit's No. 2 tight end behind rookie Sam LaPorta, Wright logged 423 offensive snaps this season, catching 13 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. In Sunday's victory over the Buccaneers, he had a 29-yard reception that was the key play during a second-half touchdown drive.

The Lions had another injury scare in the quarter when center Frank Ragnow was rolled up on from behind by Buccaneers defender Calijah Kancey, who had sacked quarterback Jared Goff on the third-down snap. Ragnow stayed down after the play and had to be helped off the field, but returned to the game on the next offensive series and finished the game.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

@Justin_Rogers