The Lions’ inactives tell us something important for today — and potentially something bigger for after the bye
Williams will gut it out against Arizona, while Detroit’s choices at tight end and safety offer clues about where the roster could be headed during the bye week.
The Detroit Lions will play the Arizona Cardinals on the road in just a couple of hours, but first they have put out their inactives, and they tell us both who is not playing and, more importantly, who is. Let’s break it down.
Tyleik Williams is in
Williams walked out of the locker room in Carolina in a walking boot last weekend and was mostly a limited participant at practice this week. He’s going to play in this game after having a questionable designation. That’s a big deal for the Lions, as he has been one of the league’s better nose tackles this season.
Devin White is in
After back-to-back weeks as a healthy scratch, the Lions are rolling with White again. They have seven linebackers active for this game. They certainly seemed to have meant it when they said that if someone makes a mistake, they’ll put someone else out there.
Jackson Meeks is out
It seemed as though Meeks had jumped Tyler Conklin on the depth chart in recent weeks, but this week he’s out, with Conklin going in. That’s an added blocker for Detroit, and Conklin has receiving ability as well. It should be interesting to see if Detroit uses that at any point.
Bishop Fitzgerald is out and probably will stay out
When the Lions poached him from the Steelers, I think fans may have thought that he was a diamond in the rough who could come in and play a bunch immediately. Maybe he’ll be that diamond, but that’s likely not happening now.
NFL roster rules state that players signed off another team’s practice squad must remain on the active roster for at least three games. This is Fitzgerald’s third game with Detroit. If the team plans a trade during the bye week or activates Brian Branch, look at Fitzgerald as a candidate to be the corresponding move.
Rock Ya-Sin, Ben Bartch, Mekhi Wingo, and Ahmed Hassanein were all expected out
Ya-Sin and Bartch are both dealing with injuries. Wingo and Hassanein have been inactive every week of the season.
Still not sure why Hassanein hasn’t played, but at this point, the defensive line is the best part of the Lions’ defense. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.
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