How about some good Detroit Lions injury news?
After both Terrion Arnold (calf) and Derrick Barnes (finger) left Thursday’s practice early with respective injuries, coach Dan Campbell announced that both will be participating in Friday’s practice, the first padded practice of training camp.
That’s obviously great news for a Lions defense that has started camp strongly and aggressively. Arnold is a player who appears in the midst of making a Year 2 jump after an up-and-down rookie season. Campbell has been
impressed by how he’s started camp.
“He’s where I would expect him to be in Year 2 after four (training camp) days,” Campbell said. “You expected another level of confidence, of maturity, ownership, accountability. And that’s what you feel right now at this point, which is exactly what we wanted to feel. So I like where he’s at going into pads.”
As for Barnes, he’s returning to the field after a knee injury cost him the majority of his 2024 season. After emphasizing the SAM linebacker role in their defense, the Lions displayed their confidence in Barnes by handing him a three-year, $24 million contract in 2024. Now, Barnes is looking to justify that investment.
“Yeah, (I’ve got) something to prove to myself,” Barnes said this week. “I would say that I, last year was the first year where I felt was everything was coming together for me. The game slowed down, I was at my healthiest, before my knee. I felt my strongest, felt my fastest. It’s really time to (pick up) where I left (off).”
The Lions will take part in their fifth practice on Friday morning. We’ll have a full participation report after practice.
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