The Green Bay Packers will enter Ford Field with a team far away from their ideal lineup. Seventeen players were listed on Tuesday's injury report, and many of them won't play on Thanksgiving – running back Aaron Jones and tight end Luke Musgrave, for example, have already been ruled out by head coach Matt LaFleur.

It's not the perfect circumstance for the young team against a strong divisional opponent, a better roster on paper that was much better on the field in week 4 as well. But it's also a big opportunity for some pieces to show growth and their value to the franchise. Right now and for the future.

So let's evaluate five players to keep an eye on.

Tucker Kraft

Luke Musgrave is out with an abdomen injury — it’s a lacerated kidney. Veteran Josiah Deguara might be out too with a hip issue. That means third-round rookie Tucker Kraft will be the primary tight end for the Packers on Thursday, and this opportunity couldn't have come in a better time for the young player.

He's clearly growing as an offensive piece, is a solid and useful blocker, and showed against the Los Angeles Chargers that he can also be a weapon as a receiver. According to PFF, Kraft has had his two best games in the NFL over the last three weeks, and this is exactly what the Packers hope to see this year: development and growth from their young offensive pieces.

AJ Dillon

Dillon has been limited in practice with a groin injury, but if he's able to go on Thursday, his workload will be massive. Without Aaron Jones and probably Emanuel Wilson too, the Packers will be thin at running back, and Dillon is obviously the most reliable and powerful option.

Even though Dillon hasn't been exactly an efficient runner, he has played better since week 5, which means the version on the field in Detroit is probably better than the one the Lions faced at Lambeau Field in week 4.

Patrick Taylor and James Robinson might be active for Thursday, but AJ Dillon has to play well to put a dismantled offense in more favorable situations.

Zach Tom

The second-year tackle has been the bright spot on the Packers offensive line, but it's a big challenge for him against Aidan Hutchinson. In their first matchup, the Lions edge defender had a big advantage, but there are mitigating factors.

Tom had suffered a knee injury one week before, had been limited in practice the entire week and questionable to play until gameday. Now healthier, the right tackle gets another chance, and he has to be more like his normal self than the version that played one of the worst pass-blocking games of his career to give quarterback Jordan Love a fair shot.

Rashan Gary

The most valuable Packers defender has not been the same since signing his four-year extension. His three worst games by PFF grades have happened since the deal was announced.

The Packers haven't gotten much pass rush production from the other edge defenders, so Rashan Gary has to be more effective and disruptive.

Over the first six games of the season, Gary averaged 4.33 pressures per game. In the last four weeks, the number decreased to 2.25.

The Packers will face what defensive coordinator Joe Barry classified as the best offensive line in football, so Gary’s power and ability to affect the quarterback will be imperative for the defensive success.

Keisean Nixon

Nixon was re-signed by the Packers to be a kick returner, but his defensive role as a starting nickel has been as important. It's unclear if Jaire Alexander will play, and Eric Stokes hasn't been designated to return from injured reserve, so Nixon is a primary piece of the secondary.

This is particularly important in Thursday's game because the Lions' two best receiving weapons are slot receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and tight end Sam LaPorta.

Those are two potential mismatches for Keisean Nixon, but he also has an opportunity to show his value for this team – maybe even in the long term, which is more significant since the Packers traded Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills.

Packers TE Luke Musgrave has “pretty significant” abdomen injury

IR is a possibility for the rookie