The 11-1 Detroit Lions host the 9-3 Green Bay Packers at Ford Field for their 13th regular season game and final regular season matchup between their division rivals on Thursday Night Football. With a victory over the Packers, the Lions would clinch a playoff berth for the second consecutive season and the second time in Dan Campbell’s tenure as head coach. The home team is a 3.5-point favorite, with an over/under of 51.5.
The Detroit Lions $60 million offensive tackle hasn’t played since Week 12
Taylor Decker injured his knee during the third quarter of their Week 12 victory over the Indianapolis Colts and missed 14 of 82 offensive snaps. Decker did not participate during last week’s short practice, and the Lions ruled him out for their Week 13 victory over the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving.
He will not play on TNF
Taylor Decker did not participate during Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday’s practice as he continues to rehab from his knee injury. The Detroit Lions released the week’s final injury report earlier today and ruled out four players for Thursday Night Football. Highlighting one of the four players who will not participate tomorrow night is Decker, who will miss his second consecutive game and third on the season.
#GBvsDET injury report presented by Henry Ford Health. pic.twitter.com/TSkrKoHjxc
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 4, 2024
Who replaces him in the starting lineup?
The expectation is for Dan Skipper to serve as Jared Goff’s blindside protector against the Green Bay Packers. Skipper started at left tackle in Week 10 against the Houston Texans and in Week 13 against the Chicago Bears. He is familiar with the position, and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has confidence in their 30-year-old lineman.
“He’s come in and he’s fought his tail off which is exactly what we expected from him,” said offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. “He’s a guy that, he understands his physical limitations and he adjusts accordingly, so if he needs to take a certain angle because he might not be quite as quick as (Taylor) Decker might be on some things, then he knows how to do that. Then, he also knows how to handle these edge rushers to where it makes them – if they are going to win a rep, he’s not going to do it quickly. He’s not going to allow them to do that quickly, it’s going to take them a second to do that. So, he does a great job for us, we know he’s going to fight, we know he’s going to finish for all 60 minutes.”
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