Detroit Lions Week 1 inactives: Levi Onwuzurike, Julian Okwara OUT vs. 49ers

The Lions defensive line will be missing a couple of key players.

The Detroit Lions have declared their inactives for their Week 1 matchup versus the San Francisco 49ers.

With Taylor Decker on injured reserve, the Lions signed Tommy Kraemer to the 53-man roster and elevated Will Holden from the practice squad. Kraemer takes Decker’s spot in the 53 man roster, but Holden’s elevation brings the Lions’ roster up to 54 players. Because the Lions have eight offensive active for today’s contest, they are eligible to take advantage of a rule put in place last season by the NFL and can expand their game day rosters from 46 to 48 players.

Therefore, with 54 players on the roster and just 48 eligible to play, the Lions need to declare six inactive for today’s matchup. Here are those players:

Lions inactives:

• RB Jermar Jefferson
• WR Khadarel Hodge
• WR Tom Kennedy
• G Tommy Kraemer
• DT Levi Onwuzurike
• EDGE Julian Okwara

With four running backs on the active roster and Godwin Igwebuike the team’s likely kick returner, Jefferson is the odd man out. Hodge and Kennedy are victims of depth at the position, as the Lions are rolling with five wide receivers. The Lions had eight offensive linemen active without Kraemer so he’s another depth player who will be a healthy scratch.

Onwuzurike being inactive is a disappointment for the rookie who missed most of training camp with a back injury and is now dealing with a hip issue. In some positive defensive line news, Brockers (shoulder) and Nick Williams (elbow) are both active and likely to start.

Okwara being inactive likely speaks to his struggles in run defense, as the 49ers have a highly efficient running game.

49ers inactives:

• OL Aaron Banks
• DT Javon Kinlaw
• CB Emmanuel Moseley
• CB Josh Norman
• RB Trey Sermon

Kinlaw and Moseley were projected starters for the 49ers, and Norman was a potential starter replacement, which should help the Lions’ offense considerably.