Veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell could be suiting up for the Miami Dolphins for the final time Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

According to the Miami Herald, there is a growing expectation Campbell will be waived when the Dolphins are officially eliminated from postseason contention.

The Detroit Lions’ defense could benefit from the addition of another experienced veteran along the defensive line, as they continue their pursuit of their first-ever Super Bowl appearance and win.

As writer Omar Kelly explained, “Campbell and the Dolphins have discussed his release, which would need to happen before next week’s season finale, giving him an opportunity to latch on to a team competing for the Super Bowl. The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings are also expected to be interested, and might put in a waiver claim to strengthen their cause, and prevent a front runner like the Chiefs from adding the defensive lineman who ranks third in active sacks.”

Campbell, 38, has recorded four sacks, 46 tackles, five pass breakups and one forced fumble for the 7-8 Dolphins. He has appeared in two Super Bowls, but is still chasing the elusive Lombardi Trophy.

“My whole career I’ve been close, but no cigar,” said Campbell. “I want that cigar.”

Unfortunately, Detroit still remains lower on the waiver wire than teams that could also benefit from Campbell’s services, including the Ravens.

Additional reading

1.) Za’Darius Smith Still Irate at Packers: ‘They Lied’

2.) Six Lions Players to Watch Against 49ers

3.) Two Lions Ruled Out, Reeves-Maybin Questionable Against 49ers

When do the Detroit Lions play today?

Short answer: they don’t!

Welcome to Week 17 of the 2024 NFL season, which began Wednesday this week with two Christmas Day games between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers and then continued with an afternoon matchup of the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans. T

This is the most sprawled out week of NFL action perhaps ever, with games on Wednesday (Ravens vs. Texans, Chiefs vs. Steelers), Thursday (Bears vs. Seahawks), Saturday (Chargers vs. Patriots, Broncos vs. Bengals, Cardinals vs. Rams), Sunday and last but not least, Monday.

The Lions do not play on Sunday, playing in the last game of the week on the road against the San Francisco 49ers in a rematch of last year’s NFC championship.

REQUIRED READING: Sizing up Detroit Lions’ Super Bowl 2025 competition at quarter mark of NFL season

Here’s a quick look at the Lions in Week 17.

Do the Lions play today?

No. The Lions do not play on Sunday, but will be in action on Monday for Monday Night Football on ABC & ESPN against the 49ers. Before the season, a lot of people circled their calendars for the Week 17 NFC championship rematch between the Lions and 49ers as one of the games of the year. While the stakes remain high, it certainly won’t be one of the biggest games of the year anymore. Pretty much everything that could go wrong for the 49ers this year has, and Kyle Shanahan’s team has already been eliminated from the playoffs but will be trying to play spoiler. The Lions have already locked up their spot in the postseason, but depending on what the Vikings do in their matchup with the Packers, the Lions could potentially lock up the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a win.

Watch Lions-49ers on ESPN+

The Lions played on Monday Night Football earlier this year, beating the Seattle Seahawks, 42-29, in a shootout at Ford Field. The Lions are 7-8 on Mondays since 1999 and 2-1 under Dan Campbell.

The extra day of rest this week will be given back heading into Week 18, as the Lions prepare for a potentially huge game in the final week of the season against the Vikings.

HOW DO THEY COME UP WITH THESE TRICKS: How trio of Detroit Lions assistant position coaches fuel trick plays, player development

Week 17 schedule NFL

Follow live NFL Week 17 scores at https://sportsdata.usatoday.com.

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Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams got a 15-yard penalty for taunting Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson for the second time this season on Sunday. The former Alabama All-American got the first during the Lions’ 23-20 victory over the Bears on Nov. 28, then picked up another in a 34-17 win on Sunday.

“He was great,” Detroit coach Dan Campbell said about his sideline talk with Williams after Sunday’s penalty. “Came over and it’s just, ‘Look, you can’t give them a free ride.’ He knew. It’s just, ‘Get it out of the way and get back on the field.’ And he was good.

“That’s what I love about him. He doesn’t get bent out of shape. He just said, ‘I got it.’ And he goes back in and it doesn’t affect the way he played the rest of the game. He was great. I love where he’s at right now. I really do.”

The NFL was not as understanding. Williams was fined $11,255 for the infraction, the league announced on Saturday. The NFL did not fine Williams for his taunting penalty on Nov. 28.

JAMESON WILLIAMS SCORES LONG-DISTANCE TOUCHDOWN AGAINST CHICAGO BEARS

Williams wasn’t the only former Alabama standout fined by the NFL for taunting during a Week 16 game. Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, a former Hoover High School star, also was fined $11,255 for taunting. Humphrey was not penalized during the game for the transgression, but the NFL still imposed the fine after the cornerback held out the football behind him toward his pursuers as he returned an interception for a touchdown in a 34-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday.

MARLON HUMPHREY SCORES MILESTONE NFL TOUCHDOWN FOR ALABAMA

Two other players from Alabama high schools and colleges were among the 22 fined by the NFL for Week 16.

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) got an $11,255 penalty for a face-mask penalty.

Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Colby Wooden (Auburn) got a $6,150 fine for an unnecessary-roughness penalty.

The NFL uses a collectively bargained schedule of fines to determine the amount of monetary punishment. The NFL’s Schedule of Fines also comes with a list of aggravating and mitigating factors that can affect the size of a fine.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.