GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Detroit Lions pulled Mekhi Wingo off the physically unable to perform list late in training camp, but the second-year defensive lineman is inactive for the season opener against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Sept. 7.
Wingo, a sixth-round pick out of LSU last year who missed the end of his rookie season with a knee injury, is one of three defensive linemen the Lions made inactive along with defensive tackle Chris Smith and defensive end Tyrus Wheat.
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Safety Thomas Harper also is inactive, and running back Sione Vaki (hamstring) and linebacker Trevor Nowaske (elbow) are out with injuries. Neither Vaki nor Nowaske practiced this week.
With Wheat inactive, the Lions have just three active defensive ends: Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport and Al-Quadin Muhammad, though Pat O’Connor also can play the position.
Newly acquired edge rusher Micah Parsons is active for the Packers a little more than a week after they acquired him in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Lions expect to see Parsons in a limited role on obvious pass rush downs and in other key situations.
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo (94) picks up a fumble by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kyle Allen (4) against Pittsburgh Steelers center Ryan McCollum (62) during the first half of a preseason game at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, August 24, 2024.
Wide receiver Jayden Reed, who was questionable with a foot injury, also is active for the Packers, who have not lost a home opener since 2012.
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Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Micah Parsons active for Packers, Mekhi Wingo out for Lions