The Detroit Lions have declared their inactives ahead of the Wild Card round of the playoffs matchup with the Los Angeles Rams and the big news is that stud tight end Sam LaPorta is active and will play in this game.
LaPorta is having a tremendous season in which he has set countless tight end and rookie records on his way to earning a Pro Bowl nod and a second-team All-Pro nomination. Unfortunately, LaPorta was injured in Week 18, and while things looked bleak to start the week, he has consistently improved and is good to go.
The Lions needed to make a few roster moves this week after placing tight end James Mitchell and corner Jerry Jacobs on injured reserve. In corresponding moves, the Lions signed tight end Anthony Firkser and corner Chase Lucas off their practice squad. In addition, the Lions elevated fullback Jason Cabinda and defensive lineman Tyson Alualu from the practice squad, bringing Detroit’s game-day roster total up to 55 players.
Because the Lions have eight offensive linemen active for Sunday’s game, they are eligible to expand their game-day roster from 47 to 48 players. Therefore, with 55 players on the game-day roster and 48 eligible to play, the Lions need to declare seven players inactive for today’s matchup.
Lions inactives:
- QB Hendon Hooker — designated as the team’s emergency quarterback
- WR Kalif Raymond (knee) — Ruled out on Friday
- DT Brodric Martin
- EDGE Julian Okwara
- EDGE Charles Harris
- CB Steven Gilmore
- S Tracy Walker
Hooker will once again be the Lions emergency quarterback, meaning he will be inactive for today’s game unless both of Detroit’s other options at quarterback are lost due to injury. In that case, Hooker would be allowed to become active and could enter the game.
Raymond’s absence will open the door for Donovan Peoples-Jones, who seems the most likely candidate to step into the WR4 and punt returner role.
With a healthy roster, especially on the defensive line, Okwara, Harris, and Martin will not play this week despite being healthy.
The same is true for the Lions' secondary as Gilmore is once again a healthy scratch and Walker will not play likely due to the return of C.J. Gardner Johnson.
Rams inactives:
WR Tyler Johnson
RB Zach Evans
OL Warren McClendon
LB Ochaun Mathis
LB Troy Reeder
S Jordan Fuller