JUST IN: Detroit Lions Player Has Decided Not To Play The….

Due to a hand injury, Lions’ Alex Anzalone is officially out of the lineup for Week 13.

The seasoned middle linebacker, hurt on Thanksgiving Day, is still not ready to play.

Linebacker Alex Anzalone of the Detroit Lions has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against his former team, the New Orleans Saints, and will not be traveling to the game, the team announced on Saturday.

The six-year NFL veteran, 29, is dealing with a hand injury he sustained during the team’s unexpected Thanksgiving Day loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Anzalone has been a vital component of the Lions’ defense, helping them to achieve one of their best seasons to date. In terms of sacks (three) and quarterback hits (nine), he has achieved new career highs. Before Sunday’s game, he had the most tackles of any Detroit player with 87. Due to the injury, Anzalone has been unable to practice all week.

“We feel good about that room, but anytime you lose a player like Alex, if that’s the case, it’s not easy,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said to reporters earlier this week. “They’re going to be asked to do what they do best, and I believe they will perform well for us this week,”

Anzalone was selected by the Saints in the third round (76th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Florida, and he played his first three years in the league with them.

Right now, the 8-3 Lions are third in the NFC playoff picture and first in the NFC North. The Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, and Seattle Seahawks are vying with the 5-6 Saints for the final and seventh playoff spot in the conference.

Malcolm Rodriguez of the Lions will probably spell Anzalone as middle linebacker.