The Detroit Lions could activate defensive back Christian Izien off the nonfootball illness list this weekend.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said before practice Friday, July 31, that the plan is to give Izien one more day to get better before returning to practice.
Izien opened camp on NFI because of the flu. He worked out on a side field with trainers at Thursday's practice.
"We were hopeful today, man we just, hey, let’s back this up one more day so hopefully after this day off Sunday he’s able to go," Campbell said. "He had the flu, he’s just still a little weak."
Izien is expected to compete for a starting job at safety or slot cornerback to start the season.
Regular safeties Brian Branch (Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee) are on the physically unable
to perform list and not expected to be ready for the Lions' season opener against the New Orleans Saints, and veterans Chuck Clark and Avonte Maddox have taken first-team reps at the position through the first two days of camp.
Roger McCreary has played primarily as the Lions' top slot cornerback.
"Really the plan was to start this going in, was that Izzy was going to, we were going to give him some of the base nickel stuff," Campbell said. "[We] set this whole thing up and that’s kind of how it works and he’s not able to go so we adjust. But he’s really, I think let’s give [him] the first shot of base reps, first-and-10s, second-and-6 or under, and let him play that. And he’s done that before. He’s an active player around the box, obviously. And so that’s on hold till he gets back, but he’s really the first guy we think of [in that position]."
The Lions also waived tight end Zach Horton and signed veteran tight end Anthony Firkser before practice Friday. Firkser caught eight passes for 53 yards and appeared in seven games with four starts for the Lions last season.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions re-sign TE Anthony Firkser; DB Christian Izien nearing return
