The Packers deferred after winning the coin toss. The Lions have a 7-0 lead after the first possession.
Detroit went 70 yards in 11 plays, going 2-for-2 on third down and getting another conversion on a Packers penalty.
David Montgomery capped off the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.
The Lions had a chance to hold the Packers to a field goal when Dan Skipper, subbing for Taylor Decker at left tackle, was called for a holding penalty. But on third-and-goal from the 7, Packers defensive back Keisean Nixon made illegal contact with Tim Patrick. It gave the Lions an automatic first down at the 3, and Montgomery scored on the next play.
Jared Goff was 6-of-8 for 58 yards with Jameson Williams catching a 28-yarder.
After the NFL Players Association hired DeMaurice Smith to serve as executive director in 2009, one of Smith’s first key hires was George Atallah. Fifteen years and two CBAs later, Atallah is moving on.
Atallah announced his departure on Thursday.
“After an incredible 15 years . . . I am taking the leap to start my own venture at the start of 2025,” Atallah said on Twitter. “This has been the experience of a lifetime, highlighted by my relationships with player leaders, working alongside the best colleagues & others across business, labor and sports.”
Atallah’s title has been assistant executive director of external affairs. He handled communications and more for the union, through a contentious lockout and labor negotiation in 2011 and a landmark CBA in 2020 that paved the way for a 17-game season.
Through it all, player pay has gone up and up and up.
Under current executive director Lloyd Howell, who was hired in 2023, the union has become more secretive and guarded. It started with a hiring process that entailed no external transparency — and precious little transparency among the rank and file.
Atallah, who will start an advisory firm, at all times represented the interests of the players well. We agreed at times, disagreed at times. He was always cooperative and respectful.
Hopefully, the union will become a little more open and a little less insulated when it comes to communicating information to the media. The owners have managed to win the hearts and minds of many fans who routinely side with billionaires over millionaires (and plenty of players who definitely don’t have a million bucks in the bank). Some in the media feed into that divide, subtly (or not) pushing pro-management viewpoints.
The reality is that the players are the game. We tune in to watch them, not the owners. And whatever the players can get, the truth is that they should always get more. Especially since they have none of the equity.
The Seahawks downgraded running back Kenneth Walker (ankle/calf) and wide receiver DK Metcalf (shoulder) on Thursday. Both players were limited Wednesday.
Metcalf didn’t practice last Wednesday and Thursday and still played 48 of 64 snaps in the victory over the Jets. For the season, he has 50 receptions for 763 yards and three touchdowns.
It marks the first week Walker has appeared on the report since Week 8 when he had an illness.
He has 145 carries for 542 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
Defensive end Leonard Williams (foot) remained out, and nose tackle Johnathan had a rest day.
Punter Michael Dickson (back) and tight end Brady Russell (foot) again was limited.
Offensive tackle Abraham Lucas (knee) returned to full participation after rehabbing Wednesday.
Both the Lions and Packers already had ruled out four players for Thursday Night Football, and neither team had another player with a designation. So, the teams had few decisions to make for their inactive lists.
The Lions will play without four starters, as offensive tackle Taylor Decker (knee), defensive end Josh Paschal (knee), defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (knee) and defensive tackle DJ Reader (shoulder) will not play.
Dan Skipper is expected to replace Decker.
The team’s other inactives are cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, offensive guard Kayode Awosika and offensive tackle Giovanni Manu.
The Packers already had ruled out three starters, with cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee), linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) and wide receiver Romeo Doubs (concussion) among the inactives.
Cornerback Corey Ballentine (knee) and offensive lineman Jacob Monk also won’t play.
So much for Bill Belichick being obsessed with catching Don Shula.
The long-time NFL coach has interviewed for the vacancy at North Carolina. According to Pat Forde of SI.com, Belichick has been talking to UNC for “several days.” He has a “genuine interest” in coaching at the college level.
Belichick began his coaching career in 1975. He worked at the NFL level continuously through 2023. He has never coached at the college level.
But his father was a scout at the Naval Academy, and Belichick learned the game by working with his dad. It would be fitting at some level for Belichick to give it a try.
The bigger question is whether Belichick doesn’t think the planets will align to give him an NFL opportunity he’d accept. Last year, he received only one interview and no offer in the hiring cycle.
Possible 2025 destinations include the Jaguars, the Bears, the Saints, the Cowboys, the Buccaneers, and the Giants. All hinge first on the existence of a vacancy, and second on the willingness of the owner to hire a coach who turns 73 in April.
Control will be an issue. If he doesn’t get the keys to the football operation, will the person who has it be comfortable having Belichick work for him?
Belichick also will presumably want to go to a team that presents him with an opportunity to win. If he fails in his first stop post-Patriots, that will diminish his perceived greatness.
Of course, the college game is a different animal. Recruiting, NIL, limited access to players, etc. He’d need to accumulate a team of lieutenants with a different skill set than he’d need in the NFL.
Wherever this goes, Belichick doesn’t seem like the type to waste anyone’s time, especially his. It will be interesting to see if he interviews for other vacancies at the college level.
Chargers receiver Ladd McConkey (knee/shoulder) remained limited Thursday.
He exited Sunday’s win over the Falcons with his knee issue but had a season-high nine catches for 117 yards.
McConkey leads the team with 58 receptions for 815 yards with four touchdowns this season.
The Chargers had three changes to their practice report Thursday: Linebacker Dayan Henley (knee) returned to a limited practice after missing Wednesday; safety Tony Jefferson (hamstring) sat out Thursday after limited work Wednesday; and outside linebacker Khalil Mack (rest) returned to full participation.
Cornerback Cam Hart (ankle), linebacker Junior Colson (ankle) and linebacker Denzel Perryman (groin) remained limited as were outside linebacker Bud Dupree (heel) and defensive back Elijah Molden (back).
LSU tight end Mason Taylor has declared for the 2025 NFL draft, forgoing his senior season.
Taylor announced his decision on social media Thursday.
“I am excited for both the challenges and the opportunities that are in front of me but please know that while I am leaving LSU, I will forever bleed purple and gold. Geaux Tigers,” Taylor wrote on Instagram.
Taylor will leave as the career leader in receptions (129) and receiving yards (1,308) for a tight end in school history.
He was a three-year starter for the Tigers.
Taylor becomes the second LSU player to announce his early departure from Baton Rouge to head to the NFL, joining offensive tackle Will Campbell.
The Seahawks claimed receiver/returner Jaelon Darden off waivers Thursday, the team announced.
The Browns waived him Wednesday.
Darden appeared in seven games for the Browns this season, playing 22 offensive snaps and 47 on special teams. He has averaged 10.6 yards on 22 punt returns and 24.3 yards on four kickoff returns. Darden also has one catch for 6 yards.
Darden, a fourth-round pick of the Buccaneers in 2021, has appeared in 31 games the past four seasons.
The Seahawks waived cornerback and returner Dee Williams in a corresponding move.
Williams was on kickoff and punt returns, and Laviska Shenault Jr. returned kicks along with Williams before being waived earlier this week.
Williams, who signed with the Seahawks as undrafted free agent this spring, returned 15 punts for 111 yards and nine kickoffs for 254 yards.
Cornerback Darius Slay took another step toward returning to the Eagles lineup on Thursday.
Slay was bumped up to full participation after getting in a limited practice on Wednesday. If he responds well to the uptick in work, it seems like a good bet that he’ll be able to clear the concussion protocol in time to play against the Panthers.
Wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) was a full participant for the second straight day, so his chances of returning also look good.
Guard Mekhi Becton (knee, rest), defensive tackle Jalen Carter (rest), and linebacker Josh Sweat (rest) were also full participants. Wide receivers Britain Covey (neck) and Johnny Wilson (hamstring) were listed as limited while safety Reed Blankenship (concussion), safety Sydney Brown (knee), and tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) remained out of practice.
Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is expected to play Monday night, but he missed the first practice of the work week.
Lamb aggravated his shoulder in the Thanksgiving Day win over the Giants, and he rehabbed the injury during Thursday’s practice.
The Cowboys also were missing left tackle Tyler Guyton (ankle/knee), right guard Zack Martin (ankle/shoulder), safety Juanyeh Thomas (knee) and linebacker Nick Vigil (foot). Martin will go on season-ending injured reserve this week.
Wide receiver Brandin Cooks (rest/knee), cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee), safety Malik Hooker (rest), linebacker Eric Kendricks (rest/shoulder), cornerback Jourdan Lewis (rest) and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (hamstring) were limited.
Tight end Jake Ferguson had a full practice, and, now cleared from concussion protocol, will make his return to the lineup this week.
