Detroit Lions linebacker James Houston is available for the first time since Week 2, as the second-year pro is officially active against the 49ers.
After a stellar rookie campaign that saw the 2022 sixth-round draft pick record eight sacks in seven games, Houston fractured his ankle in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks.
Detroit's pass-rush has benefitted from additional blitzing from the safety position and Aidan Hutchinson's steadiness throughout the playoffs.
The addition of Houston gives Aaron Glenn more options to battle against 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy.
"Here's what you see with this player (Purdy) a lot, you really don't get to him a lot, because of the timing of the offense and he'll get the ball now," Glenn explained this week. "So, the one thing I preached to do that is man, you gotta get your hands up, because he's a smaller stature player, all right, and he does a really good job of knowing exactly where he's gonna go with the ball.
"So, the rush plan for the most part, four-man rush, you've got to win. They have to. Because sometimes you could send six and you will never get there and the ball's gonna get out. Just put your guys in man coverage and the ball's gonna get out. So, we have to do a really good job of really changing it up. Sometimes we'll send that. Sometimes we're set four right and have max droppers in the back-end."
Here is an updated list of the Lions' inactives for their NFC Championship contest against the 49ers:
- CB Steven Gilmore
- DL Charles Harris
- QB Hendon Hooker (emergency QB)
- G Jonah Jackson
- DL Brodric Martin
- WR Kalif Raymond
- S Tracy Walker
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