MINNEAPOLIS – The Detroit Lions won't have the services of starting right guard Kevin Zeitler today in their NFC North showdown with the undefeated Minnesota Vikings.
Zeitler injured his groin Thursday at practice, didn't practice Friday and was listed as questionable to play on Friday's injury report. He is inactive and won't play today.
The expectation is for Kayode Awosika to step in and fill the void. Awosika has stepped in and played well when asked to do so over the course of the last two years, including a Week 4 Lions win vs. Seattle when he moved into the starting lineup at left guard when Graham Glasgow shifted to center because Frank Ragnow missed the game. Awosika allowed just one pressure all contest against the Seahawks and was good blocking in the run game too.
Detroit will have the services of veteran cornerback Carlton Davis III. He's been dealing with a quad injury that prevented him from practicing Wednesday and Thursday. He returned to practice Friday, was listed as questionable, but is active today.
That's certainly good news for a Lions secondary tasked with slowing down arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL in the Vikings' Justin Jefferson. In his last three games vs. Detroit, Jefferson has caught 29 passes for 553 yards and two touchdowns.
Joining Zeitler on Detroit's inactive list today against the Vikings are safety Loren Strickland, tight end Parker Hesse, wide receiver Isaiah Williams, tackle Giovanni Manu and defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas, who was just acquired off Cincinnati's practice squad this week.
View photos from the Detroit Lions' trip to Minneapolis for their Week 7 game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill (54) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions guard Kayode Awosika (74) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions safety Brandon Joseph (12) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor (29) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (15) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (42) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo (94) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Josh Paschal (93) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tight end Parker Hesse (43) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions long snapper Hogan Hatten (49) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions safety Loren Strickland (24) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (39) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) travels to Minneapolis on Oct. 19, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
"Brad (Holmes) and I both liked him when he was coming out," head coach Dan Campbell said of Thomas. "He's trying to learn our terminology and I talked with him (Friday) morning, I told him like everybody else, I said, 'Hey, you come in here and learn what we're doing and just continue to develop, keep working.' I already like his work ethic, and you earn everything you get here.
"So you go, you compete, and we'll take it where it goes. So, I don't see him being up this (week), but he's here for a reason and that's to get a look at him and let him compete with all those other guys."
Third-year defensive lineman James Houston is active today after being on and off the active list to start the season as the Lions play their first contest without edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who broke his leg in Dallas last week. Josh Paschal, Levi Onwuzurike, Isaac Ukwu, Houston and others will try to help fill the pass-rushing void on the edge today for Detroit's defense.
