Alex Anzalone and Kalif Raymond have each taken an important step in the right direction. The Detroit Lions activated Anzalone and Raymond from injured reserve on Saturday afternoon.

Anzalone (forearm) and Raymond (foot) remain questionable heading into Sunday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings.

The linebacker and captain has been out since breaking his forearm against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11. Raymond has been out since last month, suffering a foot injury against the Indianapolis Colts.

It’s been tough to get a read on Anzalone’s chances of playing in this winner-take-all game. The desire is there, and the right steps have been made, finishing the week with full participation in back-to-back practices. But Anzalone acknowledges he’s not 100% and hasn’t been able to test everything in a full-speed environment. He still has the steel plate inserted in his forearm from less than six weeks ago, too.

Anzalone and head coach Dan Campbell also spoke about the fact that this game against the Vikings is as big as one gets in the season. The Lions already clinched for the playoffs and guaranteed another game past Sunday night, no matter what happens.

“You’ve got to rep it a little bit, get comfortable, like, ‘Man, that was a pretty violent hit, and I didn’t feel anything,’” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. “Or, ‘Oh, that wasn’t what I thought it was going to be.’

“That becomes a mental thing. But I feel confident — listen, if he’s going to play, it’s because we know he’s going to be able to go full-tilt, and he’s going to be able to help us, and he’s going to be able to protect himself, play at a high level, and we can trust that, and we’re not putting him in harm’s way. And if we don’t feel that way, we’re not going to play him; it’s not worth it.”

Anzalone suffered a similar injury in college and said he didn’t make it back this quickly with that first time. He’s been practicing with a padded cast with carbon fiber on his injured forearm.

“Obviously, the doctors and the trainers, they go through what the risks are,” Anzalone said Thursday. “Waiting a week, waiting two weeks, going through practice, maybe letting it spin next week or the week after that or this week.

“So I think that for me personally, I think it’s like, ‘OK, say if something did happen, would I be okay not playing in the Super Bowl?’ So I think that’s kind of the decision I have to make in my own head, and is it worth it? How do I feel going over these next few practices? And go from there, because I haven’t practiced in six weeks. So, I’m just using my arm and seeing how it goes.”

Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone celebrates after making a tackle during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)AP

Raymond’s return seems likely, though. He’s been back at practice for a couple of weeks now, and with Tom Kennedy being waived and added back to the practice squad, the path is cleared. Raymond is an underrated depth receiver and a former All-Pro punt returner. If he’s active, expect him in there.

Emmanuel Moseley, who has missed practice all week with an illness, has been placed on the reserve/non-football illness list. The veteran cornerback has been limited to special teams in his brief return, with healthy scratches and a pre-game setback clouding his return to action over the last month.

The Lions signed defensive back Morice Norris back from their practice squad. He played 20 snaps on special teams in last week’s victory.

They also elevated defensive lineman Chris Smith and defensive back Stantley Thomas-Oliver for this game. Smith has seen occasional action between the roster and practice squad this year, while this will be a first for Thomas-Oliver.