The Detroit Lions have their most important game of the season so far on Sunday as they host the Green Bay Packers in their first divisional clash of 2026. The team is trending in the right direction as the Lions are healthier than they have ever been, practicing with their full team following the bye week. Plus, they are getting Brian Branch and Cade Mays back, which should give them a boost against the surging Packers.
Green Bay may have won three in a row, but they have a few major areas of concern. One of those is the offensive line. In fact, Pro Football Focus has graded the Packers as the worst pass-blocking and second-worst run-blocking team of the season so far. This has put a ceiling on the Packers' offense, which ranks 23rd in points and 18th in yards through six weeks.
This could lead them to make significant changes to the offensive line. In fact, they could turn to a familiar face for Lions fans.
Kevin Zeitler, who started at right guard for the Lions the entire 2024 campaign, could make his first start for the Packers on Sunday.
Lions may face Kevin Zeitler in a Packers uniform on Sunday
After spending the offseason and the first month of the season unsigned, Zeitler eventually landed a new deal with the Packers. He suited up in two games and played a handful of special teams snaps, but the veteran offensive lineman has yet to play an offensive snap for the team.
Now that he has had three weeks to get up to speed, many are wondering whether head coach Matt LaFleur will finally trust him against his former team.
The Packers have been starting Travis Glover at right guard for the past three weeks. He has been a major part of Green Bay's struggles. Fans have been calling for Zeitler to get a chance. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tom Silverstein reported that Zeitler got some first-team reps on Thursday, along with the usual starters, including Glover.
If the Packers are going to give Zeitler a chance, doing so against the Lions makes plenty of sense. Zeitler is very familiar with Dan Campbell and the Lions. He was a key part of the 15-2 team in 2024 that had one of the best offensive units ever. In fact, on PFF, that was his second-highest-graded season of his 14-year career.
This got Zeitler a contract with the Titans in the 2025 offseason. The Lions drafted Tate Ratledge to take over at right guard, and he has done a solid job since. Detroit certainly doesn't miss 36-year-old Zeitler, as they needed to get younger on the offensive line. But it's still going to hurt seeing him lining up against the Lions' defense, especially if he ends up being an upgrade for the Packers.
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