Contrary to a prior report, the Lions will get two key starters back Thursday night against the Packers.
Left tackle Taylor Decker and running back David Montgomery are good to go, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, who had mistakenly reported Thursday morning that both players were not expected to play.
That came as a surprise, particularly in the case of Decker who said Monday that he fully expected to go after missing the last two games with a high-ankle sprain and bone bruise he suffered in Week 1. Montgomery, though not as committal, was similarly hopeful that he'd be ready after missing Week 3 with a thigh bruise.
"It’s probably just going to fu*king hurt," Decker said of his ankle. "But as long as I can be functional, I can deal with the pain. I’ve done it plenty of times before. I’m confident I can go out there and help us win."
Montgomery will give the Lions another boost. He said this week he's hungry for redemption at Lambeau Field, where he went 0-4 in his four years with the Bears, losing by an average of two touchdowns. He also said that "whether it's Green Bay or it’s high school, I want to go out there and play for my guys, knowing what they've sacrificed and the things I’ve sacrificed as well."
Montgomery rushed 37 times for 141 yards and two touchdowns in Detroit's first two games and said he hasn't "been my best self" yet: "I want to be better and I will be."
"Lot of areas, not just running the ball," he said. "Some things that I’m a hard critic on myself that you guys see from a naked eye that’s not a big deal, it’s a large deal to me. Just being adamant about the things I didn’t do well and being able to go back and look at myself in the mirror and say, ‘Hey, you weren’t great here, so you gotta be better the next opportunity that you get.'"
The Lions won't have cornerback Emmanuel Moseley Thursday night. He's still working his way back from a hamstring injury, a setback in his recovery from a torn ACL, and will likely make his season debut in Week 5.
On the Packers side of things, running back Aaron Jones and receiver Christian Watson, both listed as questionable with hamstring injuries, are expected to play Thursday night. It would mark Watson's season debut.