Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press

As disappointed as the Detroit Lions are in Dominic Raiola's untimely suspension, the 14-year veteran should get his starting job back when he returns for the playoffs next week.

Lions offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said Wednesday that there's little chance rookie Travis Swanson will unseat Raiola and take over as the team's permanent starter.

"Oh boy, it would be hard," Lombardi said. "It'd be hard to imagine."

Swanson, a third-round pick out of Arkansas, will make his first career start at center Sunday against the Green Bay Packers after filling in at right guard for three games last month.

Raiola has started 99 straight games at center for the Lions and is the franchise's career leader in starts.

He was suspended one game on Monday for intentionally stepping on the ankle of Chicago Bears defensive tackle Ego Ferguson.

Lions coach Jim Caldwell said Wednesday that he wasn't surprised by Raiola's suspension and that "the film supports" the NFL's decision. But he declined to say whether he felt Raiola let the team down.

The Lions can win their first division title in 21 years and earn a first-round playoff bye if they can beat the Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

"We don't lament and talk about those kinds of things because all that does is create issues, which is obviously something that we try to stay away from," Caldwell said. "We want to focus on obviously the next task at hand and talking about it, giving it energy does us no good. And I'm not going to talk about it much longer."