Lions vs Bills Week 2 Inactives: A Banged-Up Night in the Trenches

Lions inactives: Keith Abney II (CB), Ahmed Hassanein (Edge), Christian Mahogany (OL), Blake Miller (OT), Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (CB), Jimmy Rolder (LB), Mekhi Wingo (DL).

Levi Onwuzurike is back on the active roster after Detroit re-signed him from the practice squad — a notable bit of news given he'd been released off the main roster ahead of Week 1. This time around his deal for the rest of the season isn't guaranteed, so it's as much an audition as a reinstatement, and it's an unlucky break for Mekhi Wingo, who stays inactive despite Ben Stille not being elevated this week.

With both Abney and Rakestraw inactive at corner, expect DJ Reed to play significant reps despite carrying a foot injury into the game, and Christian Izien should be back playing significant snaps at nickel after being inactive last week. At edge, Ahmed Hassanein misses out again in favour of Eric O'Neill, another strong showing for the 2026 UDFA. Rolder remains inactive as he continues working back from injury.

The other story up front is the Lions' O-line shuffle. With Blake Miller out at tackle, Larry Borom steps into the starting lineup, and Detroit elevated Devin Cochran from the practice squad specifically to provide tackle cover behind him. On the interior, Christian Mahogany's absence at guard pushes Netane Bartsch into the starting lineup, and the Lions elevated center Seth McLaughlin as insurance in case Juice Scruggs needs to slide over to left guard — which would leave Detroit needing a body ready to step in at center.

Bills inactives: Skyler Bell (WR), Ty Johnson (RB), Jalon Kilgore (S), Armaj Reed-Adams (G), Jude Bowry (T/G), Ed Oliver (DL), T.J. Sanders (DL).

Buffalo's list is headlined by a name nobody wanted to see there: Ed Oliver, the Bills' best interior disruptor, went down in pregame warmups and won't play. That's a significant subtraction from a defensive front that leans on him in both base and sub packages. DeWayne Carter steps in to replace Oliver's role in Buffalo's base 3-4, while Landon Jackson takes over Oliver's reps in the nickel sub-package — meaning the Lions' interior pass protection now faces a rotation rather than a single dominant force, which could be a small silver lining for a Detroit line already dealing with its own shuffling.