It was a big day at Detroit Lions training camp, as several important players returned to action following the team’s preseason opener. Saturday’s practice was only in shells and a short one, but it’s a key step in getting some critical players back into the starting lineup and earning some valuable reps.
Returned to practice:
- RB Sione Vaki (broken nose, poked eye)
- RB Jabari Small (knee?)
- C Juice Scruggs (soft tissue)
- LB Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle)
- EDGE Derrick Moore (groin)
- CB D.J. Reed (groin)
Vaki didn’t do any team work on offense, but was back in his spot on special teams, particularly in the personal protector role on punt coverage.
Small missed a couple practices and the preseason opener with what is believed to be a knee injury, but that remains unconfirmed by the Lions. He’s in a tight competition for the RB4 role, so his return is critical for his chances to make the roster.
Scruggs was back after missing about a week with an undisclosed soft tissue injury. He appeared to be fully back, and was with the first-team offense as the starting center, jumping Seth McLaughlin.
Rodriguez returned and got a ton of work with the second-team defense during nickel looks. I did not see base defense looks with the first-team on Saturday, so it’s unclear if he’s still considered a starter.
Moore saw the field for the first time in almost two weeks, and the rookie defensive end went through most of practice. That included some one-on-one work, and plenty of special teams reps for the former Wolverine.
Reed got an entire workload after missing some time with a groin injury. He was back as the No. 1 cornerback in both individual and team drills, and looked feisty in coverage against Detroit’s talented receivers.
Working with trainers, not practicing:
- OT Devin Cochran (undisclosed)
- LB Jimmy Rolder (leg)
The big news here is that fourth-round rookie Jimmy Rolder was out working with a trainer for the first time since his leg injury early in camp. He was wearing a big sleeve on his leg, but was running at a pretty good pace. We’ll see if he can avoid injured reserve at the start of the season, but it’s worth the reminder that coach Dan Campbell said he’d miss “a while,” but there were subsequent reports that he avoided a major injury, and he will “miss some time.”
Cochran did some serious work with a trainer, as he tries to return to the field to give Detroit some much-needed tackle depth.
Not practicing:
- RB Isiah Pacheco (knee)
- RB Jacob Saylors (ankle)
- RB Kye Robichaux (broken foot)
- TE Jackson Meeks (undisclosed)
- OT Giovanni Manu (NFI)
- C Cade Mays (wrist)
- EDGE Payton Turner (back)
- DT Mekhi Wingo (concussion?)
- LB Damone Clark (undisclosed)
- SLoren Strickland
- S Kerby Joseph (PUP, knee)
- S Brian Branch (PUP, Achilles)
The Lions did suffer a lot of little injuries during their preseason opener.
Saylors had an ankle injury after being tackled from behind, but Campbell downplayed the seriousness of it.
“I don’t think it’s serious, but it could be a day or two here,” Campbell said.
The bigger injury happened to running back mate Kye Robichaux, who apparently has a broken bone in his foot.
“God bless him, dude. He got a foot (injury). It could be – looks like he may have broke a bone in that foot,” Campbell said. “And he’s been so dang just durable all camp, played his heart out. He’s another guy just gives you everything he’s got, maximize everything.”
At this point, there is no information on why Jackson Meeks missed practice.
After Thursday’s game, Campbell speculated that Mekhi Wingo may be going through concussion protocol, so his absence is not a surprise.
Campbell expressed some concern about Strickland’s injury—suggesting they needed to look at imaging before diagnosing him. His absence could be bad news for him, but it’s too early to know.