The Detroit Lions enter Thursday Night Football against the Buffalo Bills with a critical shortage on their offensive line, ruling out rookie right tackle Blake Miller and starting left guard Christian Mahogany just one day before kickoff. Miller, who never missed a game in his Clemson career, will sit out his second NFL contest due to a knee injury that flared after his Week 1 debut, while Mahogany will miss the game with a hip injury sustained early in the season opener.
Veteran Larry Borom is expected to step in at right tackle, bringing experience from 11 starts at the position for the Miami Dolphins last season, while Ben Bartch will start at left guard after playing the majority of snaps there in Week 1. The absences leave the Lions down essentially three starters on the unit, as center Cade Mays remains on injured reserve with a broken wrist and Juice Scruggs continues to fill the void.
Defensive backs also face uncertainty with cornerback D.J. Reed listed as questionable for the game after a foot injury limited his practice participation mid-week, though he remains a game-time decision.
Trade Speculation Cools
Despite the Lions creating significant salary cap flexibility through recent contract restructures, head coach Dan Campbell has signaled that a blockbuster trade is not imminent. When asked if the newly created room was a precursor to a major addition, Campbell stated he does not see that happening immediately, though he acknowledged the financial maneuvering provides necessary options.
“I don’t see that,” Campbell said regarding immediate major moves, before adding that the flexibility allows the team to wait for the right opportunity or address their own players. While names like Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. have circulated in trade rumors, the front office appears content to hold its fire rather than spend draft capital simply because cap space exists.
Bills Defensive Adjustments
Buffalo defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has identified stopping Jahmyr Gibbs as the primary challenge for his unit, noting that the Lions’ entire offensive scheme, from the run game to play-action bootlegs, flows through the running back. Leonhard described the Lions’ offense as “extremely talented” and “explosive,” emphasizing the need for his defense to be precise in pre-snap recognition to handle the unique skill sets of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jameson Williams.
The Bills’ offense, led by quarterback Josh Allen, is coming off a performance where he averaged 13.2 air yards per attempt, his highest mark since the 2023 season, and connected on five completions of 30 yards or more. Allen emphasized the importance of “chunk plays” to score efficiently, a strategy that will test a Lions defense that allowed six passing plays of 20-plus yards in Week 1.
Buffalo also faces its own injury concerns with safety Cole Bishop and running back Ty Johnson listed as questionable due to knee/groin and hamstring issues, respectively. Bishop, who played nearly every defensive snap in Week 1, practiced fully on Monday before being limited later in the week, while Johnson missed the opener and remains limited with a hamstring strain dating back to August.
Offensive Line Rankings Shift
Pro Football Focus released updated offensive line rankings following Week 1, placing the Buffalo Bills at number six in the league. The Bills impressed in pass protection against the Houston Texans, holding edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. to six combined pressures. Left tackle Dion Dawkins led the unit with an 87.5% pass-block win rate on plays where he did not receive help.
The Lions’ depleted front will face a Bills defense that transitioned to a 3-4 scheme under new coordinator Jim Leonhard. Leonhard noted that the Bills must correct their red-zone defense, where they allowed Houston to convert four of five trips into touchdowns. The Lions, meanwhile, are looking to establish a run game that generated 165 yards against New Orleans to keep Allen on the sideline.
Keys to Victory on Short Week
Three specific areas will determine the outcome of the Thursday Night Football matchup. First, Jameson Williams must bounce back from a quiet Week 1; the Bills allowed receptions of 25 and 35 yards to the Texans, presenting opportunities for deep passes that Williams must convert.
Second, the Lions’ interior defensive line must generate pressure. Alim McNeill and Tyleik Williams will need to disrupt Josh Allen, who is not afraid to make risky throws but can be forced into mistakes by interior pressure. Week 1, while Williams posted a 76.4 pass-rush grade.
Finally, the Lions must score touchdowns rather than settle for field goals. With the defense playing 90 snaps in the season opener, fatigue could set in early, requiring the offense to put points on the board quickly. Dan Campbell has shown a willingness to be aggressive on fourth down, a strategy that will be crucial against a high-powered Buffalo offense.
This article was created by aggregating Detroit Lions news using Artificial Intelligence.
