The Detroit Lions are dealing with a number of significant injuries on defense so they've called in reinforcements.

With the recent injuries to linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (IR), defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo (IR), defensive end Josh Paschal (knee) and defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring), the team signed three players off practice squads.

The team signed defensive lineman Myles Adams off Seattle's practice squad, linebacker Kwon Alexander from Denver's practice squad and defensive lineman Jonah Williams from the Los Angeles Rams' practice squad.

If a practice squad player is signed by another team, they receive a guaranteed three-week salary and will count against the 53-man roster for at least three weeks – even if released before those three weeks are over.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn know Alexander well from their time together in New Orleans in 2020. The former Pro Bowler has started 90 games in his NFL career with 639 tackles and 54 tackles for loss.

"We know exactly what he's suited to do," Campbell said. "Most of this is going to be carryover for him. Some of terminology might be a tick different than what he was doing in Denver but a lot of this is the same as New Orleans. So, I think he's going to pick up on this fast."

Adams (6-2, 290) played for the Seahawks in their Week 4 loss in Detroit, recording three tackles against the Lions. He's played in 26 games in four seasons with 30 tackles, a sack and a couple tackles for loss.

Williams (6-5, 275) has played in six games for the Rams this season and can play both inside and on the edge. He's started 22 games over four seasons with 2.5 sacks.

Detroit also signed former All-Pro defensive back Jamal Adams to their practice squad. Adams has 81 starts over eight seasons but has only played in 13 games over the last three seasons.

"This will be good getting Jamal here," Campbell said Sunday. "We'll see if there's a place for him. It just gives us options."

ROUND 2

This is the first time the Lions will face one of their division opponents for the second time this season. Detroit defeated the Packers, 24-14, Week 9 at Green Bay. That game was severely impacted by the weather as it was rainy and cold that Nov. 3 night at Lambeau Field.

"The weather affected a couple of things, but I think all in all, the blueprints there for either team, however you want to look at it," Campbell said. "So, I don't see anything being too significant and we get wrinkles every week. We always get something that's tendency breakers now. So, we pretty much expect that."

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has liked the physical nature in which his team has played since that Week 9 loss to Detroit. The Packers have won their last three contests dating back to that loss and have held their last two opponents – San Francisco and Miami – to 83 combined total rushing yards.

"They are a very physical team, so it should be a great battle on Thursday Night Football," LaFleur said Sunday of the Lions.

DECEMBER FOOTBALL

Flipping the calendar over to December means the stretch run for the playoffs has begun. The Lions (11-1) have a big game this week that could have plenty of playoff implications hosting the 9-3 Packers.

The top four teams in the NFC are separated by just two games with the Lions holding a slim one-game lead with five games remaining. While this can be a stressful time for some NFL coaches, Campbell seems to revel in it.

"I think once you hit December, it's hard not to start to begin to look up a little bit and I mean that in a good way," he said. "You can start to smell the playoffs a little bit, you can start to see what's out in front of you, what's at stake, you know you're well within the race, and I think it just gives you a little bit of, I don't know man, excitement."

Campbell said the competitive part of this game is why everyone does it. He loved that Minnesota came back and beat Arizona Sunday to stay just a game behind them.

"The race is on and it's just good," he said. "This is top-tier stuff and it's for the best of the best and this thing's going to go down to the wire and we just have to worry about winning the one in front of us."