The Lions will be without stalwart right guard Kevin Zeitler for Saturday night's divisional round game against the Commanders.
Zeitler, who was unable to practice this week due to a hamstring injury he suffered in the Lions' Week 18 win over the Vikings, was officially ruled out on Thursday. He will be replaced by rookie Christian Mahogany, who showed well in his first NFL start filling in for left guard Graham Glasgow in the Lions' Week 16 win over the Bears.
“Yeah, we thought that was a good showing by him and it’s worthy to give him a shot," Dan Campbell said Thursday.
Against the Bears, Mahogany allowed just one quarterback pressure on 33 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus, and helped the Lions rush for 146 yards. He'll be flipping to the other side of the line against Washington, which poses a new challenge.
The Commanders have one of the better defensive tackle duos in the NFL in Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, though Allen has been hampered by a pec injury this season and Payne hasn't played up to his usual standard.