Lions start Tim Boyle at QB with Jared Goff inactive

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff is out of action Sunday due to an oblique injury, meaning Tim Boyle will make his first career start.

Boyle, 27, signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and played three seasons for the team before signing with the Lions as a free agent in 2021. After undergoing thumb surgery in August, Boyle spent the first two months of the season on injured reserve, but was activated by the Lions earlier this week.

Goff did not practice all week leading up to the Lions' Week 11 game against the Cleveland Browns. He was ruled doubtful to play and officially declared inactive Sunday morning.

The Lions are still looking for their first win of the season after losing their first eight games and tying the Pittsburgh Steelers, 16-16, in Week 10. Goff was acquired from the Los Angeles Rams in an offseason trade that sent long-time Lions starter Matthew Stafford to the West Coast.

Boyle has thrown just four passes in his NFL career, completing three of them for 15 yards. All four of those pass attempts came in the closing minutes of a 37-8 loss for the Packers to the San Francisco 49ers in 2019.