The Detroit Lions scaled back training camp practice on Wednesday after coach Dan Campbell said they were “humming” during Tuesday’s practice. That was reflected on the injury report, where a few Lions returned from injury, but we also saw a couple new faces out.
Returned to practice:
- RB Jabari Small (concussion)
- OL Miles Frazier (undisclosed)
- DB Nick Whiteside (undisclosed)
Small made a step toward returning to acton on Wednesday, suiting up for Detroit’s short practice. The running back took part in positional drills, but when the team drills began, he was running sprints with a trainer for the rest of practice. Small is
still in contention for the Lions’ RB4 job with Jacob Saylors, so if he can recover quick enough to play in Saturday’s preseason finale, he could still make a case for the spot.
Fraizer, too, was held out of team drills, but he was back after missing a practice. His left leg not only has a brace on it, but a pretty significant wrap. To accommodate his absence, the Lions had Devin Cochran run double duty at left tackle with the backups and third stringers, and Ben Bartch work with the second and third teams at left guard.
Whiteside was back after leaving Tuesday’s practice early. With the Lions so shorthanded at cornerback, most of his work on Wednesday was at safety with the second-team defense.
Not practicing:
- RB Isiah Pacheco (knee)
- OT Giovanni Manu (NFI)
- C Cade Mays (wrist)
- G Michael Niese (leg)
- EDGE Payton Turner (back)
- EDGE Derrick Moore (unknown)
- EDGE Ahmed Hassanein (unknown)
- LB Jimmy Rolder (leg)
- LB Trevor Nowaske (leg)
- S Thomas Harper (ankle)
- S Christian Izien (undisclosed)
- S Kerby Joseph (PUP, knee)
- S Brian Branch (PUP, Achilles)
Detroit was without both Derrick Moore and Ahmed Hassanein on the edge. There is currently no explanation for their absences, as they did not appear to leave Tuesday’s practice early. We’ll see if they are back out there for Thursday’s training camp finale.
Coach Dan Campbell offered an encouraging update on Trevor Nowaske after he left Tuesday’s practice early.
“We think is just a little strain or sprain,” Campbell said. “So, I think we’ll be okay here, let it calm down, so I’m not as worried about that.”
He sounded a little more worried about safety Christian Izien, who could miss the team’s opening game against the New Orleans Saints in just over two weeks.
“It’ll probably be a little bit here,” Campbell said. “I don’t know if we’ll have him for the opener or not, but we’ll have him. I mean, we’re going to get him here. If it’s not then, we’ll get him here early in the season at some point.”
