SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Detroit Lions are getting a boost for their pass rush just in time for Sunday's NFC championship game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Outside linebacker James Houston is active for today's game for the first time since he fractured his fibula in a Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Houston had eight sacks in seven games last season after starting the year on practice squad. He was ticketed for a prominent pass rush role this season before injured his leg on a special teams play.

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The Lions finished 22nd in sack rate in the regular season and had one player (Aidan Hutchinson) with more than five sacks. Hutchinson has eight sacks in the Lions' past four games, including three in playoff wins over the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The 49ers allowed 34 sacks in the regular season, tied for sixth-fewest in the NFL.

Left guard Jonah Jackson (knee), return man Kalif Raymond (knee), safety Tracy Walker, quarterback Hendon Hooker, outside linebacker Charles Harris, defensive tackle Brodric Martin and cornerback Steven Gilmore are inactive for the Lions.

Hooker is the Lions' emergency third quarterback.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions' James Houston active for NFC title game vs. 49ers