On Christmas afternoon, the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings meet with both sides navigating key absences and late-week designations. The Lions ruled out two defenders and carried 11 questionables, including Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee, “positive” news) and David Montgomery (illness).
At the same time, Minnesota confirmed multiple starters out, headlined by quarterback J.J. McCarthy (right hand) and tight end T.J. Hockenson (shoulder).
Final inactives will be announced 90 minutes before kickoff; until then, operational planning reflects a matched urgency: Detroit is fighting for postseason positioning, and Minnesota is slotting replacements across offense and defense to stabilize protection, coverage, and red-zone sequencing.
Inactive List for Lions vs. Vikings
Despite being listed as questionable, St. Brown is expected to play today. According to PFSN’s WR Impact metric, the Lions star is ranked as the fourth-best wideout in the league this season.
Here are the confirmed inactives for tonight’s game:
Detroit Lions
- CB Avonte Maddox
- OL Trystan Colon
- OL Taylor Decker
- DL Tyler Lacy
- WR Dominic Lovett
- OL Michael Niese
- DL Mekhi Wingo
Minnesota Vikings
- QB J.J. McCarthy
- QB Brett Rypien
- RB Jordan Mason
- LB Austin Keys
- T Brian O’Neill
- TE T.J. Hockenson
Starters for Lions vs. Vikings
Detroit Lions
- QB Jared Goff
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs
- RB2 David Montgomery
- WR1 Amon-Ra St. Brown
- WR2 Jameson Williams
- TE Shane Zylstra
- LT Dan Skipper
- LG Christian Mahogany
- C Graham Glasgow
- RG Tate Ratledge
- RT Penei Sewell
Defense:
- LDT DJ Reader
- RDT Alim McNeill
- LDE Aidan Hutchinson
- RDE Marcus Davenport
- SLB Derrick Barnes
- WLB Alex Anzalone
- MLB Jack Campbell
- LCB D.J. Reed
- RCB Amik Robertson
- FS Jalen Mills
- SS Thomas Harper
Special Teams:
- LS Hogan Hatten
- H Jack Fox
- K-FG Jake Bates
- K-KO Jake Bates
- P Jack Fox
- KR Jacob Saylors Kalif Raymond
- PR Kalif Raymond
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Minnesota Vikings
- QB Max Brosmer
- RB Aaron Jones Sr.
- WR1 Justin Jefferson
- WR2 Jordan Addison
- FB C.J. Ham
- TE Josh Oliver
- LT Justin Skule
- LG Donovan Jackson
- C Ryan Kelly
- RG Will Fries
- RT Blake Brandel
Defense:
- NT Javon Hargrave
- LDE Jonathan Allen
- RDE Jalen Redmond
- LOLB Dallas Turner
- ROLB Andrew Van Ginkel
- LILB Eric Wilson
- RILB Blake Cashman
- LCB Isaiah Rodgers
- RCB Byron Murphy Jr.
- FS Theo Jackson
- SS Harrison Smith
Special Teams:
- LS Andrew DePaola
- H Ryan Wright
- K-FG Will Reichard
- K-KO Will Reichard
- P Ryan Wright
- KR Myles Price
- PR Myles Price
The Lions’ offense hinges on Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee) and David Montgomery (illness) clearing pregame, with Graham Glasgow’s full-practice progression stabilizing interior protection for Jared Goff.
With St. Brown expected to play, the Lions regain their primary chain-mover and red-zone option, enabling balanced Gibbs/Montgomery sequencing and play-action shots to Jameson Williams. Defensively, the absence of Avonte Maddox keeps pressure on nickel/rotational packages; edge strain remains a focus opposite Aidan Hutchinson, with interior disruption needed from DJ Reader and Alim McNeill.
For the Vikings, Max Brosmer starts with J.J. McCarthy (hand) out, reshaping early-down call sheets around Aaron Jones, utilizing quick-game options to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and making protection adjustments without Ryan Kelly. With T.J. Hockenson also out, the Vikings’ tight end usage pivots to role players and formational variability. Field position and special teams edges, particularly returns and hidden yards, loom large.
Final inactives will determine whether Detroit leans full-strength perimeter/ground identity or a contingency distribution, and how Minnesota offsets its core absences.