With tight end T.J. Hockenson the latest addition to the injured reserve, the Detroit Lions are now missing a major portion of the team’s 2021 salary cap. Whether it’s dead cap for players no longer on the team or guys who are sidelined with injuries, the Lions are paying a whole lot of salary cap obligation to players who cannot help them on the field in Week 15.
How much?
The Lions will be without players whose cap obligations total $120.8 million when they face the Arizona Cardinals in Ford Field in Week 15. The total NFL salary cap for 2021 is $182.5 million.
Dead cap: $65.084 million
Injured reserve: $49.007 million
Reserve/COVID-19: $6.795 million
Based on the figures from Over The Cap, the Lions will be without 12 of their 15 highest-compensated players. Only QB Jared Goff, RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai and LT Taylor Decker will be in uniform.
The players on the payroll the Lions will be without in Week 15, in order of 2021 salary cap commitment:
