Rashean Mathis among 6 starters out for Lions' preseason opener; Calvin Johnson active
Update: Joseph Fauria is in street clothes for warmups and will not play due to an undisclosed injury. He's practiced just once since leaving during the early portions of Thursday's practice.
DETROIT -- The Detroit Lions have scratched veteran cornerback Rashean Mathis for their preseason opener Thursday night against the New York Jets.
That means Nevin Lawson's comeback from a serious foot injury will be made in the starting lineup. The second-year player out of Utah State, who required immediate surgery after dislocating his foot in Week 2 of last season, will start opposite Darius Slay at outside cornerback.
Detroit did not provide an injury update on Mathis.
Tailback Joique Bell (knee/Achilles), right tackle LaAdrian Waddle (ACL), defensive end Jason Jones (knee), defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (hamstring) and cornerback Alex Carter (ankle) round out Detroit's inactives for the game. None of those players have practiced since the start of camp.
All six players who are out are expected to start this season.
Stars such as Calvin Johnson, Matthew Stafford and Golden Tate are active, though don't expect to see them much. Most starters played only one series in last year's preseason opener.
Receiver Ryan Broyles and tight end Joseph Fauria are also active, despite missing practice time this week with undisclosed injuries.
Broyles has not practiced all week, which typically suggests a player will not appear in a live game. But with the receiver firmly on the roster bubble, he'll try to make a go of it against New York.
The former second-round pick has dropped on the depth chart after suffering three straight season-ending leg injuries. He has declined to say whether his current injury is related to any of his previous ailments (two torn ACLs and a ruptured Achilles tendon).
Broyles is battling Corey Fuller, Lance Moore, Jeremy Ross, TJ Jones and Andrew Peacock for a job behind Johnson and Tate in that crowded receiver room.
As for Fauria, he's practiced only once since leaving Thursday's workout with an undisclosed injury. He, like Broyles, is battling for a job, though his is probably more safe at this point due to a dearth of viable options behind him.
The Jets have scratched quarterback Geno Smith, receiver TJ Graham, receiver Chris Owusu, tailback Stevan Ridley, cornerback Dee Milliner, cornerback Curtis Brown, tight end Steve Maneri, receiver Devin Smith and defensive end Mohammad Wilkerson.
Leonard Williams, the sixth overall pick in this year's draft, will start in the place of Wilkerson. Veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will start for Smith at quarterback.
Smith is out six to 10 weeks after a former teammate broke his jaw with a punch to the face this week. Ironically, the Ford Field DJ played The Weeknd's hit "Can't Feel My Face" when announcing that lineup change.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
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