The Detroit Lions have declared their inactives for their Week 16 game against the Minnesota Vikings, and they are once again fairly healthy for this game.
The Lions had a full 53-man roster entering the week, but have upgraded kicker Michael Badgley and tight end Anthony Firkser, increasing Detroit’s game-day roster total to 55 players.
Because the Lions have eight active offensive linemen for Sunday’s game, they can increase their game-day roster from 47 to 48 players. With 54 players on the active roster and 48 eligible to participate, the Lions must declare seven players inactive for today’s game.
Lions inactives:
- QB Hendon Hooker — designated as the team’s emergency quarterback
- TE Brock Wright (hip) — Ruled OUT
- LB Derrick Barnes (shoulder) — Originally ruled doubtful
- CB Jerry Jacobs (hamstring) — Ruled OUT
- WR Antoine Green
- DT Brodric Martin
- CB Steven Gilmore
Hooker was promoted to the Lions active squad this week, but with Jared Goff and Teddy Bridgewater both healthy and active, the rookie takes a back seat while the Lions stockpile at other positions. Hooker will be the “emergency quarterback”—a new provision introduced by the NFL this offseason at the Lions’ request—which means that if both Goff and Bridgewater are injured, the Lions may promote Hooker to the active roster for this game.
With Wright unable to play, the Lions will likely raise the workloads of Sam LaPorta and James Mitchell—who steps into the TE2 role this week—while the recently promoted Firkser will make his first regular-season appearance as a Lion.
Barnes was injured in the previous game, but despite returning to play, he was limited in practice all week and is labeled as unlikely to play on Friday. With him now ruled out, the Lions will look to youngster Jack Campbell for a larger role—previously, he and Barnes shared the Lions’ MIKE linebacker role—and Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Malcolm Rodriguez could potentially contribute more.
Because Jacobs was ruled out, Chase Lucas was able to return to the field after being a healthy scratch for the past few weeks, although they will most likely only serve as special teams and deep reserve options in this game.
A healthy roster once again squeezes out several rookies, including Green, Martin, and Gilmore.
Vikings inactives:
- QB Joshua Dobbs
- WR Jalen Nailor (concussion) — Ruled OUT
- TE Nick Muse
- RT Brian O’Neill (ankle)
- G Chris Reed
- CB Byron Murphy Jr. (hamstring) — Ruled OUT
- S Lewis Cine
