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The Lions added a future Hall of Famer on Wednesday when they were awarded defensive end Dwight Freeney via waivers from the Seahawks.

Freeney should be able to provide a spark to the pass rush even though he is 37 years old.

Detroit’s defensive line has become a weak spot due to season-ending injuries to Haloti Ngata and Kerry Hyder. To make matters worse Ziggy Ansah has missed the last two games with a back injury. He is questionable to play on Thanksgiving against the Vikings at Ford Field.

Freeney is unlikely to suit up to face the Vikings on Thursday since he had to travel to Detroit and also he played 18 snaps for Seattle in their loss to the Falcons on Monday night.

Freeney may not jump in until the Lions’ next game at the Ravens on Dec. 3.

Five things to know about Freeney:

1. He played in four games for the Seahawks this season and had three sacks. He was released by Seattle on Tuesday, apparently as a cap casualty.

2. This is his 16th NFL season. He has played for Seahawks (2017), Falcons (2016), Cardinals (2015), Chargers (2013-14), and the Indianapolis Colts from 2002 through 2012.

3. He has a relationship with Lions coach Jim Caldwell from their years together with the Colts. That could be a key reason the Lions are taking a chance on him. Also reportedly he’s not breaking the bank.

4. Freeney has 125.5 career sacks. In his first four years with the Colts, he was good for 51 sacks. He had three sacks in four games for Seattle this year. Originally he was a first-round pick (11th overall) in the 2002 draft out of Syracuse. He set a rookie record with nine forced fumbles in 2002 with the Colts. He was runner-up for NFL defensive rookie of the year.

5. Freeney won a Super Bowl ring with the Colts in 2006. He’s been voted to the Pro Bowl seven times and has been All-Pro first team three time. He’s on the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team.

ALLEN PARK — Jim Caldwell remembers the day President John F. Kennedy was shot, 54 years ago today.

It was the afternoon of Nov. 22, 1963. The Lions coach was 8-years-old.

“I was in my classroom, I remember exactly what happened because I was sitting in the classroom and actually our teacher walks out. Our principal was in the hallway, and our teacher comes back in and she was crying. And we all had to stop what we were doing and then the principal made an announcement on the loud sets, when they had those big speakers in your room back in those days, some of you guys remember those. And he announced that our president had been shot, so they dismissed school, and we went home,’’ Caldwell said. “I just remember that my mother made certain that all three of us sat in front of the television and watched the entire broadcast, you know, Walter Cronkite and the rest.

“So, I remember precisely where I was, time period, walking home from school, sitting down in front of that television in the living room and just — it didn’t impact us the same, because we didn’t quite know, we were so young. But we knew something was horribly wrong because it was a great sadness in our community and all across the county, so yeah, I remember exactly. That was one that leaves an indelible imprint in your mind. It was tragic,’’ Caldwell added.

Even to an 8-year-old it was a time of great sadness.

“I can only tell you from a vantage point where I grew up that everybody was affected greatly by it within our community, within the area. We lived next door to my aunt and her family, and just everybody was just completely crushed. You knew something was different, you know,’’ Caldwell said. “As a kid even, you just knew the impact that he had had on the country and with his death was really a tough day. Matter of fact, it went on for a while, I can recall that. It was not a real happy time in your churches, in your community, at your schools. It was different.”

ALLEN PARK —  Jim Caldwell owns a 3-0 record on Thanksgiving as head coach of the Lions.

For the second straight year Detroit will face division rival Minnesota at Ford Field, the 78th Lions game on Thanksgiving.

With the Vikings (8-2) atop the NFC North, it’s a bigger division game than usual with the Lions at 6-4.

With such a short week, the emphasis is on mental preparation.

“That would be accurate, I think without question, but I’m a believer in the mental is the physical 10-to-1 any day. This great majority of this game is won and lost with those six inches between your ears,’’ Caldwell said on Wednesday. “So, it’s the focus, concentration, what you believe is what counts. But also in this kind of a game where it comes around so quickly, that that’s a huge part of it, the mental part of it because you don’t get full speed reps as many as you’d like to get on.’’

Detroit won the first matchup, 14-7, on Oct. 1 at Minnesota with the defense forcing three fumbles and keeping the Vikings offense off the field. The Lions won the time of possession battle 36:27 to 23:33.

Here are five things to watch:

1. It bears repeating week after week after week, that the Lions need their run game to flourish. Ameer Abdullah had his best run game this season (94 rushing yards, one touchdown) at the Vikings. He needs that same kind of game or better and it will be tough. The Vikings’ defense is ranked second in the NFL against the run, giving up just 77.7 yards per game.

2. Also, the Lions defense must improve at stopping the run. Over the last two games (both somehow wins) they’ve given up 423 rushing yards. Running backs Latavius Murray (412 rushing yards, 3.7 yards per carry) and Jerick McKinnon (367, 3.9) carry the load for the Vikings. They miss defensive tackle Haloti Ngata but must find a way to compensate for his loss. He’s not coming back this season. Others must step up.

3. Matthew Stafford needs to continue to stay hot. In the past four games he’s passed for 1,332 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception. The offense could also help itself by getting off to a faster start. In the past two games, the Lions have been down 10-0 in the first quarter. Playing from behind is tougher and, as we’ve seen before, on a rare occasion there’s just no comeback in the comeback kid, AKA Stafford. Also, in the first game on Oct. 1, Stafford was sacked six times. He needs better protection like he’s had the past few games.

4. The defensive pass rush, which has been lacking (I’m being nice) needs to get to Case Keenum. This will be his ninth start and he’s performed well. Against the Bears last week they sacked rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky just once.

5. Expect an electric atmosphere at Ford Field, it’s always like that on Thanksgiving in front of a national TV audience. The Lions, inexplicably are 2-3 at Ford Field and 4-1 on the road. No one can complain about the road results, but winning at home should be easier. Both teams are coming off a short week, but Detroit has a bit of an advantage because they didn’t have to travel on Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Lions 24, Vikings 17

(That is Caldwell with a big smile after two beat writers called him out on his abacus remark from Monday. They brought one in on Wednesday to use while asking him a question.)