The Detroit Lions announced they have downgraded defensive tackle Nick Williams to OUT for their Week 2 matchup with the Green bay Packers.
Williams was limited with a shoulder injury all three days of practice this week and while he got in some work, coach Matt Patricia sounded concerned about his status at his morning press conferences.
“Nick Williams will be out there,” Patricia said. “We’ll see how it goes at the start of practice and progress forward from there.”
Williams saw the most snaps at defensive tackle in Week 1 — 63-percent of defensive snaps — and he will be replaced in the starting lineup by Da’Shawn Hand. Typically used as a chess piece, Hand saw 45-percent of snaps himself and the depth beyond him is minimal.
Danny Shelton will continue to play at the nose tackle position, and John Penisini will back him up, but there are no other players on the active roster capable of playing the 3/5-technique.
Fortunately, both Kevin Strong and Frank Herron are on the Lions practice squad and one of them could be promoted to the active roster ahead of the game.
It’s unlikely both would be promoted because the Lions are also suffering injuries at starting positions elsewhere on the roster, including already ruling out, wide receiver Kenny Golladay, left guard Joe Dahl, and cornerback Desmond Trufant. Right tackle Hal Vaitai didn’t practice all week and is questionable, further complicating matters.
Expect Strong and veteran offensive lineman Kenny Wiggins to be promoted to the active roster for depth.
