There was expected to be some growing pains here and there with Detroit having three new starters along the interior of the offensive line, including two young guards making their first and second starts.

There were several missed assignments upfront in the pass and run game in the Lions' 27-13 loss in Green Bay Week 1. The Packers sacked quarterback Jared Goff four times and hit him nine times total, and Detroit averaged just 2.1 yards per carry on the ground as Green Bay's defensive front played on Detroit's side of the line of the scrimmage most of the contest.

Lions offensive coordinator John Morton said Thursday the issues Detroit had upfront with communication and missed assignments have been addressed and fixed this week.

Both the veteran and young players along Detroit's front didn't hide from the performance last week and have been very vocal about getting back to the standard that's been established in that room for several years now.

"It's another opportunity for us to prove ourselves," All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell said of Sunday's game vs. Chicago at Ford Field. "Who we are and what we're capable of."

Young guards Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge were credited by Pro Football Focus with allowing seven total pressures and three sacks against the Packers. There's no better teacher in this league than live game reps and the expectation is for both to play much better this week.

"Humbling," Mahogany said of the film session of Sunday's game in the offensive line room Monday. "Me especially. It was definitely humbling and just knowing that I wasn't all the way where I wanted to be. Maybe I got too ahead of myself.

"We all know we didn't play to our standards. Very humbling. But it's about who you are when you get punched in the mouth. When you get punched in the mouth who are you? We'll continue to grow from it."

Mahogany said it was good to get back on the practice field Wednesday and work out the kinks that showed up on tape. He's confident they'll get back to their brand of football and playing up to the standard that's been built in the offensive line room.

BEARS' DEFENSE

For three quarters Monday night, Chicago's defense dominated the Vikings until quarterback J.J. McCarthy and the offensse got things rolling late with three fourth-quarter touchdowns in a come-from-behind win.

The Bears were without three starters due to injury — cornerback Jaylon Johnson, linebacker T.J. Edwards and cornerback Kyler Gordon. Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday he expected a couple of those players back this week. Johnson and Edwards returned to practice this week and are trending toward playing Sunday at Ford Field.

"I think they're very well coached and I think always have been, to be honest, on defense," Goff said this week of the Bears' defense. "I think bringing in a guy like Dennis Allen to coach their defense is a strong coach. He's a good leader and has done it for a long time.

"They're sound and they know where they're supposed to be. They've got really good, smart players, they've got good veteran players at this point. Those guys have grown up. And yeah, if they get some of those guys back, they're even more dangerous. But we've got our hands full regardless of who plays, and we have to play better than we did last week."

The Bears are currently seventh in total defense (254.0), fifth in passing defense (134.0) and tied for third in third down efficiency (25.0) after Week 1.

CONTAINING WILLIAMS

One of the areas where Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard thought his defense played particularly well last week after watching the tape was keeping Packers quarterback Jordan Love in the pocket and not allowing him to make plays with his legs.

"I want to give credit to our guys of not letting this guy out of the pocket," Sheppard said Thursday. "That's things that we've struggled with in years past. Jordan Love has burned us in years past with his legs. He had one run, I think, for four yards. So, I want to look at the positives in that."

Detroit will have to good this week too, facing Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings Monday and extended some big plays in the passing game by getting out of the pocket and buying time with his legs.

"It's a heightened emphasis if you watched the Monday night game," Sheppard said Thursday of Williams. "Caleb was outstanding, he extended a lot of drives, he put points on the board, he gave his team an opportunity to win last year via his ability to escape the pocket and run. We're very aware of that and we'll have a plan for it."

Williams passed for 590 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions and a 102.8 rating in two starts against Detroit last season. He rushed for only 44 yards combined in those two contests, both Detroit victories.

TESLAA'S ROLE

Morton confirmed Thursday that rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa will be a much bigger part of the game plan this week after missing most of the practice week due to illness ahead of the Packers game and being limited to some spot red zone work.

"I think his catching ability is big time, I've said that before, but he's smart and he's tough," Morton said of his rookie receiver. "He didn't have a lot of plays in the game, but he came in, that was an unbelievable catch. So, his role will be expanded. He will help us."