The Detroit Lions will again be without second-year defensive end Ahmed Hassanein when they face the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field.
Detroit officially turned in its inactive list, and Hassanein is on it despite a social media message earlier in the week that led many to think his status might be trending in the right direction. Instead, he stays out, making this the first six games of the 2026 season that he has been ruled inactive.
Hassanein arrived into the year off a positive training camp, but he still hasn’t cracked the game-day lineup. He is one of several Detroit players sitting out for this matchup, along with Mekhi Wingo, Bishop Fitzgerald, Seth McLaughlin and Jackson Meeks.
Even without Hassanein available, the Lions’ defensive front has gotten a strong start to the season, and a big reason for that has been defensive tackle Alim McNeill. After returning from a torn ACL last year, McNeill wasn’t at the level he expected. Now that he’s fully healed, Detroit sees him operating like one of the league’s best interior linemen.
McNeill’s 79.4 PFF grade ranks seventh out of 129 qualifying defensive linemen, while Kacy Rodgers’ unit sits fourth in pass block win rate at 58%.
“I think this is maybe the best we’ve seen Mac. I mean, the pressure he’s creating up the middle, it’s created a trickle effect for guys around him, to be honest with you," Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard explained to local reporters earlier this week.
"He’s winning at a high rate right now, and what it’s doing for guys around him and how selfless he is. But not only the pass rush, that’s kind of what gets glamoured upon, but in the run game.
“What he’s doing in the run game and able to get back to playing stout, especially when he sees double teams and things like that," Sheppard explained further. "I’m just excited for him because I know the frustration he had before not being able to be him kind of his full self.”
Green Bay comes in with offensive line issues piling up. The Packers have dealt with a wave of injuries up front, and that has shown in the run game. Their 47.8 run-blocking grade ranks 31st in the NFL, leaving their ground attack ineffective early on.
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