The Detroit Lions got back on the practice field Wednesday for the first time as they begin preparing for Sunday night’s Week 4 matchup with the Carolina Panthers, and the early injury report had a couple of notable absences.
Offensive guard Ben Bartch and defensive end DJ Wonnum were not seen during the portion of practice open to the media. Cornerback D.J. Reed was out there, but only in a limited capacity because of a rib injury.
Wonnum’s absence stands out because he’s coming off a strong showing against the Jets, when he logged two sacks and looked like the player Detroit expected when it signed him in free agency this offseason.
Bartch, meanwhile, has been dealing with injuries throughout his first season in Detroit. If he can’t go, Juice Scruggs could be the more realistic option to back up Christian Mahogany if something unexpected happens.
Dan Campbell was also asked Wednesday about the 2026 first-round draft pick, and he made clear the staff likes what it has seen so far.
“He's what we thought he would be, and he is a consistent, steady player for a young guy," said Campbell. "He's never too high, he's never too low.
He learns from every error or when he gets beat. And you're right, he got beat a lot.
(Aidan Hutchinson) Hutch got after him. I knew that was going to happen, we all did.
And I told him that before camp even started. I said, 'Listen, this is what's going to happen.
You're going to have hard days. It's going to be bad for a while, but don't get down in the dumps, learn from it and grow every day and you'll be on this downslide questioning what you have.
"If you just hang in there, you're going to come out of it and you're going to come out of it a lot better because of the guy you're having to go against.' And not just him, Wonnum too.
Because Wonnum's a different type of rusher and that's what he's done," Campbell added further. "He's continued to grow.
And look, he's not perfect, but man he is growing and getting better, and he is, he's steady and consistent for a young guy. So, we love where he's at right now.”
The official injury report listed Bartch as not practicing with a foot issue, Wonnum as not practicing with a back injury, and Reed as limited with the rib concern.
OG Ben Bartch -- (NP) Foot
DE DJ Wonnum -- (NP) Back
CB D.J. Reed -- (LP) Rib
In Other News...
Lions Suddenly Have A Devin White Problem They Didnt Expect
The Lions spent Week 3 reshuffling the middle of their defense, and Trevor Nowaske ended up with a meaningful role while Devin White watched as a healthy scratch. It was the latest reminder that Detroits linebacker spot has become one of the more fluid parts of the roster, with Dan Campbell saying the group used against the Jets could be the one the team sticks with for now.
Around Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes, the Lions are treating the position as week-to-week business, which makes the depth chart a little less settled than it looked when the season began. For White, that means the path back onto the field is anything but guaranteed, and for Detroit it means the linebacker rotation remains open to change even if the current setup holds for another game. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Dobbs Just Gave The Lions Another Viral Sideline Moment
During a recent Lions game, Josh Dobbs turned a small sideline issue into the kind of moment Detroit fans have come to expect from him. The backup quarterback noticed a coachs communication headset was getting in the way and quickly adjusted it, a sharp little fix that caught the attention of starting quarterback Jared Goff and added another clip-worthy snapshot to the Lions season.
Dobbs has built a reputation for being more than just a journeyman QB, and this was another reminder of why his nickname, The Passtronaut, fits so well. A University of Tennessee graduate with a 4.0 GPA in aerospace engineering and a background working with NASA, he has appeared in 27 NFL games across multiple teams, throwing for 3,346 yards with 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. For the Lions, moments like this only reinforce how much value he can bring beyond the box score. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Goff Just Weighed In On The Ben Johnson Buzz
Ben Johnsons comments about Case Keenum stirred up a little extra static around the Lions, but Jared Goff did not sound interested in making it a bigger thing than it was. Speaking on a podcast, Goff downplayed any idea that Johnson was taking a shot at him, saying the Bears coach reached out to clear up the remark and explain his intent.
Goff also acknowledged the substance of Johnsons point about his own mobility, which gave the whole exchange a more familiar, self-aware tone than a feud. He even joked about firing back the next time he gets a chance, a reminder that plenty of the noise around former Lions voices in the division still comes with a little mutual respect attached. [Read more 🡒]