Lions-Packers Week 17 inactives: Detroit benches rookie TE Michael Roberts

There wasn’t expected to be many surprises in the Detroit Lions’ inactive lists for their season finale against the Green Bay Packers. Head coach Jim Caldwell already announced he had no intentions of benching any starters this week.

However, there was a pretty significant surprise on the list nonetheless: rookie tight end Michael Roberts. Roberts had been splitting about a third of the snaps with Eric Ebron and Darren Fells, but this week, the Lions are apparently rolling with Hakeem Valles, who they promoted from the practice squad earlier in the week. It make sense to get a look at Valles, but him over Roberts? Pretty strange.

UPDATE: Dave Birkett is reporting that Roberts skipped a team practice on Saturday and this appears to be punishment for that:

Elsewhere, DJ Hayden is a go after being downgraded to questionable with an illness. He and rookie Teez Tabor should get plenty of time in replacement for Nevin Lawson, who remains out with a concussion.

Here’s the full list.

Lions inactives:

CB Nevin Lawson
WR Jace Billingsley
RB Zach Zenner
RB Dwayne Washington
T Brian Mihalik
TE Michael Roberts
DT Rodney Coe

Packers inactives:

WR Davante Adams
G Jahri Evans
RB Aaron Jones
WR Jordy Nelson
LB Nick Perry
TE Richard Rodgers
CB Damarious Randall
LB Chris Odom