The Lions opened Week 1 with a rare kind of injury report story: almost nothing to report.
On Tuesday, Detroit held its first practice of the week, and every player on the active roster and practice squad was on the field. That meant all 52 players on the active roster and all 16 practice squad players took part in practice, with one small exception: practice squad offensive tackle Devin Cochran was out of individual drills and working with a trainer instead.
Once the team moves into regular season mode, the media no longer sees the full practice, so the next real snapshot won’t come until the official injury report arrives on Wednesday, usually around 4 p.m. ET.
Even with that limited view, Tuesday’s turnout was a strong sign for Detroit. The safety group appears to be trending back toward full strength after Christian Izien and Thomas Harper both returned following time missed at the end of training camp.
Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are still on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which keeps them out for at least the first four games. Under a new NFL rule, though, either player can begin practicing after two games if they’re ready.
Coach Dan Campbell also said Tuesday that Joseph is back in the building after stepping away for personal reasons during camp. His update was short and to the point: “He’s here, he’s doing good, he’s ramping up,” Campbell said.
Another encouraging sight was rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder back on the field. Detroit’s fourth-round pick had missed the last month of practice after a leg injury early in camp, and now he’s returned.
Whether he’s ready for game action early in the season or needs more time to build up and earn reps is still to be determined. The Lions do have six other linebackers on the roster, including veteran Joe Bachie, who recently re-signed to the 53-man roster.
There are still a few players tied to the organization who aren’t on the active roster and remain on injury lists. That group includes:
Season-ending IR
IR, with possibility of a return
C Cade Mays
RB Isiah Pacheco
Other lists:
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