CHICAGO – The Detroit Lions will be a little shorthanded along their offensive line this afternoon against the Bears as right guard Graham Glasgow is inactive due to a knee injury he's been dealing with all week.
Glasgow missed practice Wednesday and Thursday. He was a limited participant Friday and was listed as questionable to play on Friday's practice report. He'll miss his first game this season.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell said he was confident in the options Detroit has to replace Glasgow in the starting lineup between veterans Kayode Awosika and Michael Niese and rookie Christian Mahogany.
"Yeah, comfortable," he said Friday. "I would say we're working (Mahogany) and (Awosika) Yode on both of those and working both sides, and Niese has worked a little bit of right guard for us, too. But those two we're really comfortable with."
The offensive players joining Glasgow on Detroit's inactive list today are running back David Montgomery, offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal and tackle Giovanni Manu.
There is good news for Detroit's defense as veteran safety Ifeatu Melifonwu will make his 2024 season debut in Week 16. Melifonwu missed the first 14 games with ankle and finger injuries that landed him on IR for two separate stints. The Lions started his practice window this week, activated him from IR Saturday and he's active today. We'll see how defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn decides to deploy him.
"So much of this was about getting his legs back under him, getting him comfortable this week," Campbell said of Melifonwu. "He's gotten a little better every day and he'll go out there (Friday) and practice and we're working him in some stuff – just see where he's at. But it's good to have him back and it's good to see him out there, functioning, working the position, and so that's a good thing."
View photos from the Detroit Lions' trip to Chicago for their Week 16 game against the Bears.
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (39) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker David Long Jr. (43) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Brodric Martin (96) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman DJ Reader (98) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (53) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Jonah Williams (78) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Josh Paschal (93) and Detroit Lions defensive lineman Pat O'Connor (95) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Al-Quadin Muhammad (69) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Za'Darius Smith (99) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Mitchell Agude (50) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Kwon Alexander (10) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Myles Adams (66) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor (29) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (91) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) travels to Chicago on Dec. 21, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
In 17 games and six starts to end the season last year, Melifonwu had 33 tackles (24 solo), 3.0 sacks, two interceptions, eight passes defended, four tackles for loss and five quarterback hits.
Detroit signed outside linebacker Mitchell Agude, wide receiver Tom Kennedy and defensive lineman Chris Smith from the practice squad to the active roster on Saturday and all three are active today.
The team also elevated running back Jermar Jefferson and safety Loren Strickland from the practice squad and both are active.
Inactive for Detroit's defense today are defensive lineman Jonah Williams, defensive lineman Brodric Martin and linebacker Kwon Alexander.
