Slowly but surely, some of the Detroit Lions' key figures are making their way back into training camp practices. Per Pride of Detroit's Jeremy Reisman, running backs Sione Vaki (broken nose) and Jabari Small, offensive lineman Juice Scruggs (soft tissue), linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle), EDGE Derrick Moore (groin) and cornerback D.J. Reed (groin) all made their way back into Saturday's training camp practice. On another encouraging note, Lions rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder was spotted working with trainers. Rolder is expected to "miss some time" but NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported on Aug. 1 that Rolder had avoided a severe injury. Saturday's news is a step forward in Rolder's return. Lions head coach Dan Campbell shared an injury update before the Lions' 12th training camp practice, indicating that some of its top players would start working there way back in. "Yeah, (Derrick) Moore will start working back here a little bit. We’ll work those guys progressively. Get them back every day a little bit more and more, provided no setbacks. So, I think we’ll get (Sione) Vaki out there a little bit. Moore is one of them. We talked about Juice. I think DJ Reed’s going to start working back in. So, we’re about to get a lot of guys back here," Campbell said. After exiting the Lions' preseason opener with what was later thought to be a contusion, Campbell said cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is indeed OK. "Yeah, he should be good. He should be good," Campbell said of Rakestraw. The Lions are reportedly signing veteran running back Trayveon Williams. Campbell said that's because Kye Robichaux suffered a broken foot. "Yeah, so, look, (Jabari) Small ought to be back, too. Saylors got a little ankle the other day. I don’t think it’s serious, but it could be a day or two here. Robichaux’s the one who got, God bless him dude, he got a foot. It could be, looks like he may have broke a bone in that foot. He’s been so dang just durable all camp, played his heart out. He’s another guy that just gives you everything he’s got, maximize everything. "So, that’s kind of what that was for. (Isiah) Pacheco’s still a little bit out. We don’t anticipate him being back this week, so between that, (Jahmyr) Gibbs got back, we felt like we needed another back here," Campbell said. Here's the full list of who didn't practice on Saturday, per Reisman's report:
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) S Loren Strickland S Kerby Joseph (PUP, knee) S Brian Branch (PUP, Achilles)
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