The Detroit Lions are suddenly a healthier football team on offense.
Running back Theo Riddick and tight end Eric Ebron are both active and will play today after missing time the last few weeks.
Ebron (knee/ankle) hasn't played since Detroit's Week 4 loss in Chicago. Riddick (ankle) has missed Detroit's last two contests.
Running back Dwayne Washington is a healthy scratch for the Lions-Texans matchup today. Washington was a full participant in practice this week, and wasn't among the players listed as questionable for this game.
Second-year running back Zach Zenner has played well the last couple weeks, and he appears to have bumped Washington down the depth chart.
The return of Riddick and Ebron gives the Lions their full complement of weapons against a Texans team that enters the game ranked eighth in total defense, but just 29th against the run, allowing 135.4 rushing yards per game.
The news isn't as good on the other side of the ball for Detroit.
Their defense will be without defensive tackle Haloti Ngata for a third-straight game because of a shoulder injury.
They'll also be without cornerback Darius Slay (hamstring) and linebacker DeAndre Levy (knee/quad). Slay injured his hamstring in the win vs. Washington last week, and did not practice at all this week. Levy hasn't played since Week 1.
Veteran Johnson Bademosi could start in place of Slay. The Lions have also made rookie cornerback Adairius Barnes active for the third time this season to help their depth at the position.
Joining Slay, Ngata, Washington and Levy on Detroit's inactive list today are: tackle Corey Robinson, defensive end Anthony Zettel and tight end Cole Wick.
