The big injury news of the day for the Detroit Lions was the untimely injury to starting center Cade Mays, who is expected to miss 8-10 weeks with a fractured wrist
. But Lions coach Dan Campbell provided some extra updates on Monday, and there were some more developments from training camp Day 10.Headlining the news is an update on running back Isiah Pacheco, and news on Juice Scruggs, who very well may be this team’s starting center on Week 1.
Returned to practice:
- WR Cedrick Wilson
- DT Mekhi Wingo
Wilson only missed a few practices with an undisclosed
injury, and he was right back in the lineup on Monday. It’s good news for a player in tight competition for the WR5/6 jobs.
Wingo also only missed a few practices, although it appeared he’s still working he way back into team drills.
Appeared to be limited:
- QB Josh Dobbs (not injury related)
As expected, Dobbs was held out of team work since he just joined the team. That said, he did get plenty of throws in during individual drills.
Working with trainers, not practicing:
- CB D.J. Reed
For the first time since suffering a minor groin injury, Reed was getting some training work during practice, sprinting up the hill. That is usually a good sign that he’s on the path to jumping back into the lineup soon. The last update from Campbell was that it wasn’t a “major issue” and “he’ll be back.”
Not practicing:
- RB Isiah Pacheco (undisclosed)
- RB Sione Vaki (eye, broken nose)
- WR Greg Dortch (undisclosed)
- OT Giovanni Manu (NFI)
- G Juice Scruggs (undisclosed)
- EDGE Payton Turner (back)
- DT Aidan Keanaaina (undisclosed)
- LB Damone Clark (undisclosed)
- LB Jimmy Rolder (leg)
- S Kerby Joseph (PUP, knee)
- S Brian Branch (PUP, Achilles)
- S Avonte Maddox
Campbell finally gave an update on Isiah Pacheco, and it’s mostly good news. The Lions’ backup running back has an MCL sprain, and he’ll still be sidelined “a little bit,” but Campbell isn’t concerned about it jeopardizing his start to the season.
“We feel pretty good about him being ready to go, certainly when the season gets here,” Campbell said. “So, I’m not concerned about that.”
Vaki was outside at practice with his teammates and wasn’t wearing any sort of protection for his face. His eye was still bloodshot from being poked, but he seems in good spirits. There has been no official timeline for his return.
It sounds like Juice Scruggs—who will suddenly be thrust into the starting center competition following Mays’ broken wrist—will be returning to the lineup relatively soon. Campbell called it a soft-tissue injury.
“Juice is dealing with a little bit of a injury, a soft tissue,” Campbell said. “So, he won’t be out there today. It’ll be still a few more days before he’s back, but certainly Juice is a candidate.”
Until then, it will be Seth McLaughlin at center with the starting lineup, as it was for all of Monday’s practice.
Maddox was absent from Monday’s practice with no explanation. We’ll see where he’s at when we talk to Campbell next. In his place as a starting safety alongside Chuck Clark was Thomas Harper for most of practice.
Injured during practice
- OT Devin Cochran (undisclosed)
Cochran left practice before the team broke for team drills and did not return. The team did not provide any update on his status.
As a result of his absence, we saw a lot of Miles Frazier in at right tackle on the second team with Larry Borom at left tackle.
