The Detroit Lions head into today's interconference matchup with the Tennessee Titans at Ford Field down their top three pass rushers with Josh Paschal being ruled out Friday with an illness. That means the Lions will be without Aidan Hutchinson (IR), Marcus Davenport (IR) and Paschal (inactive), who were their leading edge rushers coming into the year.
"Yeah, that's why those three guys have to step up between Isaiah (Thomas), Al-(Quadin) Muhammad and (James) Houston," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said this week. "They have to help, they have to help and that's where it goes but as always, we spread the load across that D-line with Levi (Onwuzurike), (Alim McNeill) Mac and (DJ) Reader and (Mekhi) Wingo and (Pat) O'Connor, so we have plenty in there and they pick up the slack."
View photos from Detroit Lions practice on Friday, October 25, 2024.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (91) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas (35) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (15) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker James Houston (41) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Chris Smith (90) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Parker Hesse (43) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (19) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas (35) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 25, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Thomas (6-5, 270) will make his Lions debut today after the team picked him up off Cincinnati's practice squad last week.
"I know one thing they can get out of me is consistency and discipline," Thomas said this week. "The fans are going to see a guy flying around and making plays, honestly. I feel like I'm in that time of my career where I'm still young and can go out there and fly around, be productive and be versatile in certain aspects. They get a guy who's out there who is physical, fast and out there making plays."
The team elevated Muhammad off their practice squad this week. He has 12.0 career sacks with his best production coming in 2021 when he recorded 6.0 sacks with the Colts.
Detroit also plans on utilizing a versatile linebacker group to help pressure Mason Rudolph and a Tennessee passing offense that ranks 32nd in the NFL coming into today's contest. Linebackers Jack Campbell, Malcolm Rodriguez and Trevor Nowaske all recorded sacks in the win over the Vikings last week.
Joining Paschal on today's inactive list for the Lions are tight end Parker Hesse, offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal, tackle Giovanni Manu and safety Loren Strickland.
