It's been an injury-filled season for the Detroit Lions, mostly on the defensive side of the ball. Over their three games in an 11-day span around their Thanksgiving Day game, things got particularly rough there. Four players signed after Thanksgiving were called on to play noticeable roles in Week 14 against the Green Bay Packers, which was another testament to the work defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is doing as he bolsters his head coach resume.
Extra time before taking on the 10-3 Buffalo Bills in Week 15 stood to be very helpful on the injury front for the Lions. And indeed it was, with five key players who missed or were injured during the game against the Packers (offensive tackle Taylor Decker; defensive lineman Alim McNeill, DJ Reader, Josh Paschal and Levi Onwuzurike) set to play on Sunday after not having an injury designation on Friday's final injury report.
Reader (shoulder), Paschal (knee) and Onwuzurike (hamstring) were injured on Thanksgiving against the Chicago Bears, while Decker (knee) was injured in Week 12 against the Indianapolis Colts and has missed the last two games.
The one negative on this week's injury reports was the Thursday addition of linebacker Trevor Nowaske, who was confirmed by head coach Dan Campbell to be in concussion protocol and out for Sunday's game. The Saginaw Valley State product has stepped up nicely amid all the injuries the Lions have had at linebacker.
So there should be no surprises among the inactive players for the Lions this week, with Nowaske out and those who have been regular healthy scratches all season (or lately) lined up to be again.
Detroit Lions inactives for Week 15 vs. Bills
Here are the Lions' inactives for Sunday's game.
- LB Trevor Nowaske
- CB Emmanuel Moseley
- OL Giovanni Manu
- DL Myles Adams
- OG Kayode Awosika
- OL Colby Sorsdal
- DT Brodric Martin
Moseley is inactive for the third straight game, and the second straight where he has apparently been healthy. With the reinforcements coming back to the defensive line, Myles Adams and Martin are healthy scratches.
Here are the Bills' Week 15 inactives. Douglas was ruled on Friday, and they're also down both of their starting safeties.
- CB Rasul Douglas
- S Damar Hamlin
- S Taylor Rapp
- LB Eddie Ulofoshio
- DT Quinton Jefferson
- DE Casey Toohill
- QB Mike White