Nov. 27--DETROIT -- The Chicago Bears' defense will be shorthanded Thursday at Ford Field. Neither linebacker Lance Briggs nor defensve tackle Jeremiah Ratliff will play against the Detroit Lions, both officially inactive for the game.
Briggs suffered a groin injury in the first half of last Sunday's 21-13 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and said on "The Lance Briggs Show" on Comcast SportsNet earlier this week that he expects to miss a few weeks.
Ratliff, who missed three games earlier this season with a concussion, suffered a knee injury against the Bucs and won't play against the Lions.
On the plus side for the Bears, cornerback Kyle Fuller will start Thursday in Detroit after suffering a knee injury against Tampa Bay. Fuller will be needed to help slow a Lions receiving corps headlined by Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate. It is worth noting that injuries have prevented Fuller from finishing three of the past five games.
The Bears' other inactives Thursday are Darryl Sharpton, Chris Williams, Trevor Scott, Eben Britton and Terrance Mitchell.
