The Detroit Lions announced their inactive list for Sunday's showdown against the Chicago Bears shortly before kickoff, and one offseason acquisition has already been demoted.
Defensive end Tyler Lacy, who was claimed off of waivers after being let go by the Jacksonville Jaguars at the end of the preseason, will be forced to watch from the sidelines as Detroit takes on Chicago. This is a sudden change for the former fourth-round pick, as he was active for Week 1, though he didn't play.
With injuries all over the conventional wisdom would make one believe that having as many healthy bodies up front would be an easy decision for Dan Campbell to make, but this decision shows Lacy is on shaky footing early in his Lions tenure.
Lions Defensive Lineman Tyler Lacy Demoted to Week 2 Inactive
Five other defensive linemen were ruled out of Sunday's home opener at Ford Field. With Lacy joining them, not only are the Lions shorthanded up front in a division rivalry game, it's clear he has little trust from the coaching staff. This comes on the heels of Lacy being active in Week 1 but not actually making his debut, which was an immediate sign he's far from secure on this roster.
For a player in Lacy's shoes, he is already fighting an uphill battle after joining the roster after the league's mandated cut-down day had passed. With Lacy not getting the opportunity to see the field despite needing defensive line help, it's safe to wonder whether or not he is going to be a player who sticks with Detroit for the entire regular season.
Even though he hasn't had the chance to get on the field yet for a meaningful game with the Lions, Lacy has 28 games of experience, and eight starts, under his belt. In those appearances, the lineman has recorded 37 total tackles, three tackles for a loss, and four QB hits. It isn't like he is a complete unknown at the NFL level. For one reason or another, he just isn't getting the opportunity in Detroit despite all the other injury issues up front.
Lacy clearly won't get that opportunity to show his worth on Sunday. What comes next for him is anyone's guess, but it would be wise for the former fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma State to put his best foot forward on the practice field before Week 3. Otherwise, the inactive decisions on Sundays could quickly turn into Lacy looking for an opportunity with another team.