DETROIT -- Taylor Decker and Alim McNeill are officially good to go for the Detroit Lions.
Decker has been back at practice this week, getting the day off on Saturday to get ready to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The starting left tackle has missed the last two games while working through a persisting shoulder issue.
Without Decker in the starting lineup, the Lions rolled with Giovanni Manu two weeks ago and veteran Dan Skipper in Kansas City. Manu is on injured reserve with a knee injury. Skipper slides back into his familiar depth role, giving the Lions options to roll with more six offensive linemen looks.
McNeill has been practicing for three weeks, logging back-to-back weeks of full sessions. The Lions activated the defensive lineman early on Monday, and McNeill is good to go on Monday Night Football.
The 25-year-old has been out since suffering an ACL injury against the Buffalo Bills back in December of last year. McNeill is one of the NFL’s best interior defenders. He brings another stout run stuffer, and adds a versatile piece to move around who can create pressure.
With Aidan Hutchinson rolling with a sack in five straight and a forced fumble in four straight games, McNeill adds a defensive linemen opponents must account for.
“It’s going to be great. It’s going to be so good to have him back,” Hutchinson said of McNeill earlier this week. He’s. I know he can’t wait to be back. It’s going to be fun to watch, that’s all I know.
“And going to be playing beside each other on some reps, too. It’s going to be really great to get him back.”
There were no surprises on the team’s list of inactives. The Lions will be without cornerback Terrion Arnold (shoulder), defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson, safety Kerby Joseph (knee), defensive back Avonte Maddox (hamstring), safety Jammie Robinson, running back Sione Vaki (groin) and defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo.
Tampa Bay will have two of its top receivers, with Emeka Egbuka and Mike Evans good to go after dealing with hamstring injuries. The Buccaneers will be without receiver Chris Godwin, defensive lineman C.J. Brewer, running back Bucky Irving, cornerback Kindle Vildor, safety Sebastian Castor, guard Luke Haggard and running back Josh Williams.
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