Broyles to play tonight; Lacey and Jackson starting on defense

Lions second-round pick Ryan Broyles will make his NFL debut tonight in Baltimore.

Broyles hasn’t practiced much during training camp because of soreness in the left knee that he had surgically repaired (ACL) last November. In fact, he hasn’t practiced in consecutive days since early in camp. But Broyles said Wednesday that his ability to practice on consecutive days had nothing to do with his availability to play this preseason. It appears he was right.

“When my time comes I’ll be ready,” he said.

Cornerback Jacob Lacey and defensive end Lawrence Jackson will start at right cornerback and right defensive end.

Rookie Bill Bentley started at right cornerback for the Lions in last week’s loss to the Browns. He had an interception and nearly another one in the game.

The Lions are still trying to find the right combinations in their secondary and is giving Lacey, a free agent acquisition this offseason, a chance to show what he can do.

“Well, again we really don’t have ones,” Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said Wednesday when asked about Lacey practicing with the first-team defense. “He’s in a lot of different substitution packages. He’s played well for us in training camp and he’ll get opportunities both inside and outside.

“Then when we get to the game we’ll see how much and how long those guys will be out there. But you’ll see him in a lot of different roles. He’s done a good job so far.”

Jackson is starting for the injured Kyle Vanden Bosch (knee).

Defensive end Cliff Avril and receiver Titus Young will be making their preseason debuts tonight, too. Avril missed last week’s 19-17 loss to the Browns because of a training camp holdout and Young was in California for the birth of his son.

Not playing for the Lions are running back Mikel Leshoure (hamstring), Vanden Bosch (knee), defensive tackle Sammie Hill (back), safety Louis Delmas (knee), offensive tackle Jonathan Scott (knee), cornerback Chris Greenwood (PUP) and running back Jahvid Best (PUP).