The Detroit Lions are expected to turn to Larry Borom at tackle tonight after ruling out Blake Miller and Christian Mahogany for their game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y. Ben Bartch is also expected to start at guard, giving Detroit a reshaped front for a matchup that arrived with little room to spare.
That move matters because Borom and Bartch have 82 NFL starts between them, a level of experience Detroit needs with 2 starters missing up front. The Lions entered the night already needing answers on the line, and Borom is the next man in.
D.J. Reed was one of the more closely watched names on the injury report after a foot issue surfaced Tuesday and he was listed as questionable Wednesday, but he is active and expected to start against the Buffalo Bills. Christian Izien is also active after missing Week 1 with a groin injury, while Keith Abney II, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Jimmy Rolder, Mekhi Wingo and Ahmed Hassanein are inactive. The Lions also elevated Devin Cochran and Seth McLaughlin from the practice squad for the contest, and Levi Onwuzurike was signed from the practice squad to an active roster spot and was available tonight.
The cleanest read is that Detroit is trying to survive a game-day numbers problem as much as it is managing injuries. Borom’s exact tackle spot was not specified, but his assignment is clear enough: he is part of the fix in front of an offense that had to adjust again before kickoff.
