It was a better-than-usual day on the injury front for the Lions at Allen Park, with a starter back on the field and a handful of other players trending in the right direction during the team’s 11th training camp practice of the offseason.
Dan Campbell also sounded encouraged about safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch.
“His rehab is coming along very well,” Campbell said of Joseph. “So I still see him on the Branch plan, if that makes sense.
And Branch is doing well, too. So those guys, we’re talking about on down the road, the season’s already begun, but I like where Kerby is at.”
Avonte Maddox was the clearest good sign of the day. After sitting out only one practice, he returned to work with his teammates.
Maddox is expected to be a starter, so the quick comeback is a relief. He wasn’t heavily involved in team drills, with Thomas Harper getting reps alongside the starters.
Sione Vaki also offered an encouraging sight. He was working with a trainer, wearing a helmet and a visor after dealing with a broken nose and poked eye. His eye was still bloodshot, but the fact that he was back on the field in that state suggests he’s moving in the right direction.
Malcolm Rodriguez and Derrick Moore were both working with trainers as well. Rodriguez has progressed to the most activity seen since his ankle injury, while Moore appears close to returning after missing time with a groin issue. Campbell had estimated Moore would miss 7-to-10 days, and this was Day 8.
There were still plenty of absences, though. Isiah Pacheco remained out with a knee injury, and Jabari Small missed practice after having favored his knee for several days. Campbell said Monday that Small is in a tight battle with Jacob Saylors for the RB4 job.
“Small’s having a good camp,” Campbell said Monday. “I mean, I feel like those two guys are just jockeying with each other right now.
One guy’s a little bit ahead. The next day, the other guy’s a little bit ahead.
And I love where they’re at on special teams because that’ll be big for both of those players.”
Among the other players not practicing were Giovanni Manu, Devin Cochran, Cade Mays, Juice Scruggs, Payton Turner, Aidan Keanaaina, Damone Clark, Jimmy Rolder, Khalil Dorsey, Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch.
Cochran had left practice early Monday, so his absence fit what had already unfolded. With the line short-handed, Miles Frazier kept getting work at tackle.
Dorsey also did not appear to be out there, which pushed Ennis Rakestraw into work with both the second and third units.
One late scare came when Jameson Williams stayed down for a minute or two after hauling in an out route near the sideline during the final drill. But the concern faded quickly. He only had the wind knocked out of him, and he came off the field smiling.
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