A Green Bay Packers NFC North rival is reportedly set to bench a starter on the defense for their Week 1 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Detroit Lions, favorites to win the NFC North, face a tough starting test against the defending Super Bowl champions Thursday night to kick off the 2023 regular season.
But the game between the Chiefs and Lions won’t feature two starting defensive tackles. Chris Jones is continuing his hold out with the Chiefs. Lions’ starting nose tackle Isaiah Buggs was a question mark this weekend after vague posts circulated on social media when he deleted all of “Lions” on his bio.
A Green Bay Packers rival will bench one of their starters
Buggs missed Saturday’s practice. However, he was seen back to practice on Monday. According to Justin Rodgers of the Detroit Press, Buggs told reporters the Lions told Buggs he would not play against the Chiefs Thursday night:
“As of right now, they told me that I was not going to play,” Buggs said. “So that’s what we got. I’m going to be straightforward with it, because they were straightforward with me with that. And as of right now, I will not be playing.”
Buggs signed a two-year deal with the Lions this offseason worth $4.5 million–$2 million of that is guaranteed. Buggs is listed as the Lions starting nose tackle on the depth chart.
There is more to the story, and it will be interesting to see where Buggs’ situation with the Lions goes next.
The high drama, which started in an offseason when several players were suspended by the NFL for gambling, continues to follow the Lions before the first game of a regular season the team finally has high expectations to make a playoff run.
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