The Detroit Lions injury list continues to grow little-by-little, but we are getting a lot more clarity on when many players are expected to return. Coach Dan Campbell offered a ton of updates prior to Tuesday’s practice. Here’s everything you need to know about the Lions’ injury situations and who participated during practice.
New injuries:
- RB Sione Vaki (hamstring)
- DT Roy Lopez (foot)
- DT Brodric Martin (foot)
- OT Jamarco Jones (cramp)
Vaki and Lopez suffered injuries during Monday’s practice, and Campbell noted that both injuries are not expected to be serious.
“I think those two guys will probably be a few
days here. Don’t think they’re major, but we’ll let them see where they shake out,” Campbell said.
Lopez was stepped on during Monday’s practice, and according to Campbell, the cleats then twisted into his foot. Campbell also noted that the Lions are very high on Vaki expanding his offensive role, so this is a notable setback.
“We feel like just athletically, size-wise, explosiveness, power, there’s versatility in what he could do. He might be able to play multiple roles, multiple positions, so this kind of sets us back,” Campbell said. “But he’ll be in there rehabbing with (Director of Player Health and Performance Brett Fischer) Fisch, getting it right, getting strength back in it and then we’ll start over again.”
Jones left Tuesday’s practice early, but was reportedly only dealing with cramps. Martin was also injured late, and the team noted it was a foot injury with him. No more details are available at this time.
Returned to practice
- CB D.J. Reed
Reed confirmed to Pride of Detroit that he missed Monday’s practice due to the birth of his third child.
Players working with trainers
- CB Ennis Rakestraw
- CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
Just two days after suffering a chest injury in the opening practice, Rakestraw was back out there working with a trainer. He was joined by fellow cornerback Stantley Thomas-Oliver, who is dealing with an undisclosed injury, but was getting good work in.
Updates to timelines
As mentioned at the top, Campbell was peppered with questions about players and their timelines to return. The Lions coach wasn’t clear on whether these timetables were for their return to practice or when they’d be able to play. But here’s what he had to say about each player:
OL Miles Frazier
“A knee. Probably, I don’t know, let’s call it September, October. Let’s say something like that.”
CB Khalil Dorsey
“I would say Dorsey’s probably the closest of that group. We’re hoping late camp, we could get Dorsey back. He’s doing well. He’s running - his speed is, the speed is there. Now, it’s just about being able to put your foot in the ground, make a transitional.”
LB Malcolm Rodriguez
“Rodrigo we’ve already talked about. Just doing good. Doing really good but I think he’s another October guy.”
DT Mekhi Wingo
“Yeah, Wingo’s probably September.”
Full list of players not practicing
For those that just want the names, the following players missed Tuesday’s practice:
- RB Sione Vaki
- G Miles Frazier (PUP)
- LT Taylor Decker (PUP)
- DT Levi Onwuzurike (out for season)
- DT Mekhi Wingo (PUP)
- DT Alim McNeill (PUP)
- DT Roy Lopez
- EDGE Josh Paschal (NFI)
- EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad
- LB Malcolm Rodriguez (PUP)
- LB Alex Anzalone
- CB Khalil Dorsey (PUP)
- CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver (NFI)
- CB Ennis Rakestraw
It’s worth noting that Anzalone did not provide much of an update on his hamstring. When asked about a timeline for his return, he simply said, “No clue. No clue.”
More from prideofdetroit.com:
- 2020 Detroit Lions schedule: 5 things we’d like to see
- Notes: PFF drops Detroit Lions’ 2019 draft grade after Year 1
- Former RB coach: Lions’ Jason Huntley ‘was dynamic wherever we put him’
- Kenny Golladay named a top-10 WR in NFL
- Schedule leak: Lions to host Texans on Thanksgiving
- Open thread: How do you feel about NFL games in London?
- Ask POD: Detroit Lions schedule mailbag
