Lions’ Week 2 Monday Night Football Line At Green Bay Rises As Detroit’s Injuries Mount

The bad news on injuries just keeps coming for the Detroit Lions.

After a season-opening 41-33 loss Sunday to the San Francisco 49ers, a backdoor cover that many Lions’ bettors didn’t benefit from, the team took another L on Monday.

That was when it was revealed that second-year cornerback Jeff Okudah, who needed a strong growth year after struggling as a rookie, was lost for the season. He struggled in the opener, and then Okudah ruptured his Achilles tendon late in the game. Top wide receiver Tyrell Williams also suffered a brain injury and was placed into concussion protocol.

With another starter down — left tackle Taylor Decker had surgery on his hand and is on injured reserve — the line for Monday Night Football at the Green Bay Packers has moved about a point.

After opening the week at +10.5, the Lions were 11.5-point underdogs on Thursday afternoon at the three most popular options for Michigan sports betting.

Real-time odds are listed below.

Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers: Monday Night Football Odds

How to watch: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers

• What: Detroit Lions (0-1) at Green Bay Packers (0-1)
• When: 8:15 p.m. Monday
• Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wis.
• TV: ESPN (Announcers: Steve Levy, Louis Riddick, Brian Griese, Lisa Salters); ESPN2 Monday Night Football With Peyton and Eli (Hosts: Peyton Manning, Eli Manning)
• Online livestream: ESPN+
• Radio: 97.1 FM in Detroit (Announcers: Dan Miller, Lomas Brown, T.J. Lang)

WR Williams misses practice; Brockers, Flowers, Okwara, Swift, RB Williams limited

According to MLive, Lions coach Dan Campbell said it was “not looking great” about Tyrell Williams playing Monday, as he was not with the team Thursday.

With kickoff a day later than usual, Thursday was the first day the team issued a practice report. And the injuries for the Detroit Lions were piling up.

In addition to Williams missing practice, running backs D’Andre Swift (groin) and Jamaal Williams (chest), along with defensive linemen Michael Brockers (shoulder), Trey Flowers (shoulder) and Romeo Okwara (shoulder), all were limited Thursday.

Without Okudah, the Lions are going to look to Amani Oruwariye and rookie Ifeatu Melifonwu, a third-round pick, on the outside.

That lineup could invite a big game for Rodgers and also star wide receiver Davante Adams.

Monday Night Football is rare for Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions under coach Matt Patricia were buried by the NFL last year. And rightfully so.

The NFL has a rule where every team has to play for a national TV audience at least once a year. However, the league got around that reality last year with Detroit and Washington by putting those teams on Thanksgiving Day, as the Lions are every year.

This year, Detroit is back on MNF for the first time since Week 6 of 2019, when Detroit lost 23-22 to Green Bay on a controversial ending.

During Green Bay’s winning drive in the fourth quarter, Rodgers’ offense was aided by a couple of questionable hands to the face penalty calls on Trey Flowers.

Now, Flowers is one of the only Lions left from that game, which is indicative of the direction the team has gone since then.

Overall, the Lions are 16-20-1 on Monday Night Football. Six of the past seven of those games have been on the road. In those road games, the Lions are 3-3.

Green Bay Packers struggled in Week 1 loss to New Orleans

Green Bay, after a strange offseason involving quarterback Aaron Rodgers, was dusted 38-3 by the New Orleans Saints in its opener Sunday.

After trade rumors and discussions all offseason, Rodgers threw two interceptions out of his 28 passes, connecting for just 15 completions and 133 yards. He was replaced late by second-year QB Jordan Love, his likely heir apparent, after the game was out of reach.

Star running back Aaron Jones also only had five carries for nine yards. After the 49ers ran through the Lions at will early on Sunday, rushing for a total of 131 yards on 28 carries, expect Jones to recover nicely Monday.