Lions activate three little-used defensive tackles vs. Bears; scratch Charles Harris

Chicago — The Detroit Lions will address the loss of Alim McNeill by committee. A week after making three defensive tackles healthy scratches against the New Orleans Saints, that trio of Isaiah Buggs, Levi Onwuzurike and Brodric Martin are all active for Sunday's game against the Bears.

All three of those linemen have been little used in recent weeks. Buggs, a 13-game starter for the Lions last season, has been inactive four of the past five games, including the past three. For Onwuzurike, a second-round pick in 2021, he's been scratched five of the past six matchups, sitting only once during that stretch because of injury. And Martin, a third-round choice this past April, will be appearing in a game for just the second time this season, having logged 11 snaps in the team's Week 8 win over Las Vegas.

More: Live updates: Lions at Bears

Combined, the trio have played 225 defensive snaps in 2023. McNeill, who was second on the team with five sacks before suffering the lower-body injury that landed him on injured reserve this week, has led the team's defensive tackles with 529 snaps.

With all of the team's defensive tackles active, the Lions made the following players inactive against the Bears: Center Frank Ragnow, cornerback Steven Gilmore, wide receiver Antoine Green, cornerback Chase Lucas, linebacker Trevor Nowaske and defensive end Charles Harris.

Ragnow already had been ruled out with back, knee and toe injuries. The others are healthy scratches. Lucas, one of Detroit's top special-teams performers this season takes a seat for debuting cornerback Kindle Vildor. The former Bears' draft pick was promoted off the practice squad this week.

With Harris, a defensive captain, he'll be a healthy scratch for the second time this season after watching his snap count dwindle to just three reps last week against New Orleans. The Lions will turn to Julian Okwara, who had been inactive the past two games.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

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