Detroit Lions inactives for Wild Card game: Sam LaPorta active vs. Rams

The Detroit Lions will host their first playoff game in 30 years on Sunday night, with the Los Angeles Rams and their former quarterback Matthew Stafford in town. Not to be set aside, Lions quarterback Jared Goff is also going against his former team and the coach who can't let go of his regret over how he handled Goff's departure in the trade for Stafford.

The biggest injury headline for the Lions this week is obvious.

Tight end Sam LaPorta suffered what looked like a major left knee injury in the regular season finale. He avoided the worst case, with an MRI showing a hyperextension and a bone bruise. The trend toward him playing on Sunday night has been positive all week.

LaPorta was officially listed as questionable on Friday, and on Sunday morning NFL Media reported he's "trending in the right direction" to suit up against the Rams. A pregame workout may be a formality, but it is the final hurdle for LaPorta.

Elsewhere on the injury front for Detroit, wide receiver Kalif Raymond (knee), cornerback Jerry Jacobs (thigh/knee), tight end James Mitchell (hand), edge rusher James Houston (ankle) were declared out. Jacobs and Mitchell were placed on IR Saturday. Defensive lineman John Cominsky was listed as questionable due to an illness.

Wide receiver Jameson Williams is good to go after missing Week 18 with an ankle injury, and tight end Brock Wright is back after missing three games with a hip injury.

The Rams listed six players questionable for Sunday night's game, most notably safety Jordan Fuller, tight end Tyler Higbee, offensive lineman Joe Noteboom and guard Kevin Dotson.

Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams Wild Card Round inactives

Here are the players who will be inactive for the Lions and the Rams on Sunday night.

Lions inactives:

• WR Kalif Raymond
• DE Charles Harris
• QB Hendon Hooker (emergency No. 3 quarterback)
• LB Julian Okwara
• S Tracy Walker
• DT Brodric Martin
• CB Steven Gilmore

LaPorta is active, as expected. Harris, Julian Okwara and Walker are healthy scratches, as has been common for the first two lately. Hooker has again been designated as the emergency third quarterback.

Rams inactives:

• S Jordan Fuller
• LB Troy Reeder
• RB Zach Evans
• WR Tyler Johnson
• OLB Ochaun Mathis
• OL Warren McLendon Jr.