The Detroit Lions announced that they have elevated cornerback/gunner Dee Virgin and defensive tackle Albert Huggins to the active roster for their Week 12 game against the Houston Texans on Thanksgiving Day.
Last night, the Lions protected three players on the practice squad. Today, all three are in line to play for the Lions in Week 12. In addition to Virgin and Huggins elevations, Detroit also signed Mohamad Sanu to the active roster after Hal Vaitai was placed on injured reserve.
With Tony McRae on long-term injured reserve and Mike Ford likely to miss this week with a concussion, the Lions are missing two of their best special teams gunners. Jamal Agnew, Tracy Walker, Jayron Kearse, and Justin Coleman have all seen time at gunner this season, but Virgin is the most talented gunner of the group.
This is Virgin’s second elevation to the active roster — he was also elevated in Week 2 — which is the maximum allowed during a season. If the Lions want to have Virgin available for any games moving forward, they will have to sign him to the active roster — similarly to what they did with tight end Isaac Nauta earlier in the season.
Defensive lineman Frank Herron has also exhausted his elevations, but with Da’Shawn Hand is still dealing with an injury, the team is leaning on Huggins to round out the defensive tackle group. This is Huggins’ first elevation of the season.