The Detroit Lions will be without four more starters tonight in their NFC North matchup with the Green Bay Packers, which means a handful of new veteran signings will be making their Lions debuts on Thursday Night Football.
Tackle Taylor Decker, defensive tackle DJ Reader, defensive end Josh Paschal and defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike have all been ruled out due to injury. Dan Skipper has filled in for Decker twice before this season and that's the expectation tonight.
Detroit signed a number of veterans this week to help their roster numbers will all the injuries they're currently dealing with and all of them are active tonight. That list includes defensive back Jamal Adams (elevated from practice squad), defensive lineman Myles Adams, linebacker Kwon Alexander and defensive lineman Jonah Williams. Those four between them have 194 NFL starts under their belt.
Expect Myles Adams and Williams to see plenty of reps alongside Alim McNeill, Pat O'Connor and Brodric Martin on the inside of Detroit's defensive line.
The team also signed wide receiver Maurice Alexander from the practice squad to the active roster and he's expected to handle punt and kickoff return duties again, filling in for the injured Kalif Raymond (IR).
Joining Decker, Reader, Paschal and Onwuzurike as inactives tonight for the Lions are cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, guard Kayode Awosika and tackle Giovanni Manu.
The team does get starting cornerback Carlton Davis III back after he missed Detroit's Thanksgiving Day win over Chicago with a knee injury. The Lions will need a big performance from Davis and the rest of their healthy secondary starters with all the injuries and new faces in the front seven on defense.
