The Lions got a welcome sight on Thursday: defensive tackle Tyleik Williams was back on the practice field.
Detroit, now 2-2, and Arizona, sitting at 1-3, both went through another round of work as they gear up for Sunday’s matchup, and Williams’ return was the biggest development on the Lions’ side. He had missed Wednesday’s session after getting hurt late in Week 4 and was spotted leaving Carolina in a protective walking boot, though he described that as precautionary. After sitting out to start the week, he’s now back in position to have a real shot at playing in Arizona.
It still may not be a clean path. Williams will likely need a strong Friday practice and, as is usually the case in this situation, a medical check on Saturday before the team travels. But there is optimism that he can suit up.
Not every injury note was as encouraging. Guard Ben Bartch and cornerback Rock Ya-Sin were both held out again on Thursday.
Bartch has now missed eight practices and two games because of his foot injury, so even if he returns Friday, the expectation is that he probably won’t be available this weekend. The bye week coming up gives him a little extra recovery time.
Ya-Sin also missed his second straight practice with a hamstring issue, and his status for Sunday is very much up in the air. Earlier in the week, coach Dan Campbell made it clear that the concern level was real. If Ya-Sin can’t go, Campbell has already pointed to rookie Keith Abney and veteran practice squad safety Jalen Mills as players who could see more action, though not as exact replacements.
Detroit also had a pair of players working on the clock in their 21-day evaluation windows: Mays and Branch. Mays’ progress hasn’t drawn much public update, but Branch has, and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said Thursday that the defender looks ready.
“This dude looked like he hadn’t been out. I’m serious.
It looks like it hadn’t been out. It’s unbelievable,” Sheppard said of Branch.
“So, it’s just a matter of, I’m going to lean on (Director of Player Health and Performance) Brett Fischer, (Head Athletic Trainer) Mike Sundeen, and, you know, our medical staff here. They’ve always done a tremendous job.
And whatever they tell me, if that’s 20 plays, if it’s 30, if it’s 50, I want it to be 60. But whatever they tell me, I’m going to allot that, and we’re going to roll.”
There was also a limited workload for Wonnum, who was on last week’s report with a back injury. He practiced in a limited capacity and still played, and he remains in the mix for Sunday, though his condition will need to be watched.
In Other News...
Dan Campbell Just Put More Pressure On Detroit's Offense
The Lions have spent the early part of the season trying to keep pace in games that have turned into shootouts, and Dan Campbells message leaves little room for comfort. With the defense giving up big point totals in several outings, the coach made it clear that Detroits offense has to carry a heavier load if the team wants to stay above the middle of the pack and keep its bigger hopes alive.
Campbells benchmark is as blunt as it gets: the Lions need to be putting up at least 35 points a game to help cover for the defensive problems and give themselves a realistic chance to contend. It is the kind of standard that puts immediate pressure on every drive, and it also raises the obvious question of whether this roster can sustain that level long enough to matter in a playoff race. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Have A Sam LaPorta Situation To Watch
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LaPorta has described the situation as a stalemate, but he has also sounded upbeat about the possibility of revisiting negotiations down the road. That leaves the Lions in a spot worth monitoring, because when a player has already established himself as a central part of the passing game, every pause in talks carries a little more weight than it might elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Brad Holmes Keeps Facing The Same Lions Secondary Problem
At the 2024 NFL scouting combine, Brad Holmes made clear how much he values cornerback play, and the Lions general manager has kept acting on that belief ever since. Detroit has tried to patch up its secondary through the draft and free agency, bringing in Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw in 2024 while also signing veterans such as Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley, but the results have been uneven as injuries and inconsistent play have continued to complicate the picture.
Holmes has taken multiple swings at the position, yet the same problem keeps surfacing in Detroit: finding and keeping cornerbacks who can hold up over time. With players like Carlton Davis moving on and the secondary still a lingering concern, the Lions are left with a familiar question about whether the answer is simply adding more talent or finally solving the evaluation and retention side of the job. [Read more 🡒]