The Detroit Lions may be getting Devin White back sooner than expected, and the linebacker says the door is open for a return this month.
White, who broke his right forearm in Detroit’s Week 5 win over the Arizona Cardinals, is set for updated imaging on the arm next week. He told the Free Press he could be back in action as soon as this month.
“We’re ramping it up now, so I think it’s just roll with it right now and whenever they feel like I’m ready - mentally I’m going to be ready, so it’s just whenever physically I’m able to perform at the level they want me to, I’ll be ready,” he said. “I’m going headfirst.”
White’s injury came on a friendly-fire play from teammate Chuck Clark, cutting short what had been a rotational role in his first season with the Lions. The one-time Pro Bowler with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who signed with Detroit in training camp, played in the first five weeks of the season as the team’s third linebacker.
His snap counts told the story of that role: three tackles in 18 snaps in a Week 1 win over the New Orleans Saints, a season-high 33 snaps in a Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills, then two weeks out of the lineup before returning for 16 snaps against Arizona.
“It’s crazy, man,” White said. “I get all the way to Year 8 and first time ever being on IR. And stuff was going good, but I mean, just a good mindset to get back.”
The timing matters for a Lions defense that has been hit hard at linebacker. Jack Campbell went down with a neck injury and Jimmy Rolder suffered a hamstring injury last week, forcing Detroit to reshuffle the position group.
For this week’s game against the Miami Dolphin., Malcolm Rodriguez and Trevor Nowaske are expected to start alongside Derrick Barnes. Barnes will handle the green-dot defensive communication responsibilities in Campbell’s absence.
Detroit also promoted Joe Bachie from the practice squad, signed K.J. Britt off the New England Patriots practice squad and added Owen Pappoe to the practice squad.
White said he’s hoping his own recovery lines up with a chance to face his former team later this month.
Asked if he was disappointed he might miss the Buccaneers game, he said, “I hope I do [get to play against them].”
“I don’t know [if I’ll be back by then], but I hope,” he said.
The Lions’ schedule after Miami includes a trip to Germany to face the New England Patriots, a home game against the Bucs on Nov. 22 and a Thanksgiving matchup with the Chicago Bears.
White said the time away has only sharpened his appetite to get back.
“I’m doing really good on my way back,” White said. “I think mentally being away from the game, it makes you love it even more and appreciate even more.
So I think me coming back is going to feel real good, and I’m just thankful that I will have an opportunity to come back and help this team because I feel like this team has a great window as far as doing some major things. And I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but it’s a great team, one of the greatest offenses I’ve been around, and defense, all we got to do is just limit people to under 19 and we got a great shot of winning ball games.”
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