Lions’ Inactives Vs. Panthers

Ahead of the Detroit Lions road test vs. the Carolina Panthers, the Lions have announced their inactive players.

The Lions, who face the Panthers on Sunday night Football, have declared the following players inactive:

• Offensive Lineman Ben Bartch

• Tight End Tyler Conklin

• Edge Ahmed Hassanein

• Defensive Tackle Mekhi Wingo

• Safety Bishop Fitzgerald

• Linebacker Devin White

Aside from players who began the season on Injured Reserve, the Lions enter Sunday’s game largely healthy. Detroit is still missing key starters across the board, including safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch; the latter is potentially returning to practice this week, center Cade Mays (who is eyeing a Week 7 return), backup running back Isiah Pacheco, and offensive guard Giovanni Manu.

The Lions are playing an injury-riddled Carolina squad. Carolina, who’s among the league leaders in points, is missing several key players, including wide receiver Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker, who is the team’s current leader in yards. 

The Lions and Panthers are likely to have a high-scoring game, with both teams featuring high-powered offenses and the worst defenses in the NFL this season. The Lions, who are 2-1 on the season, surrender almost 32 points per game, and Carolina, at 1-2, isn’t far behind at 27.7, including surrendering 59 points opening week to the Chicago Bears. With Carolina missing key targets against a healthy Lions team, this could be a long night for the Panthers.

The Sunday night game is Carolina’s 1st Sunday Night Football game since 2016, and the first time hosting since 2015. The Lions matchup with the Panthers concludes an NFL first, as all four NFL Cat teams play each other, with the Jacksonville Jaguars defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 22-17.

Detroit and Carolina will kick off at 8:20 pm to close the Sunday slate, as both cats look to declare themselves the victor.