Cornerback D.J. Reed just ripped through an entire workload at Detroit Lions training camp, looking absolutely feisty in coverage against those talented receivers. Seeing him back as the No. 1 corner in both individual and team drills after missing time with a groin injury? That’s the kind of news that gets you hyped, especially after the team’s preseason opener brought a few more bumps and bruises. Saturday’s practice might have been short and only in shells, but getting key players like Reed back on the field is a massive step toward nailing down the starting lineup and building crucial reps.
The Big Guns Are Back On The Field
It wasn’t just Reed bringing the energy. Juice Scruggs is back after missing about a week with a soft tissue injury, and not only is he fully back, but he’s already jumped Seth McLaughlin for that starting center spot with the first-team offense. Talk about making an immediate impact! Running back Sione Vaki, who’s been dealing with a broken nose and a poked eye, was back too, locking down his spot on special teams as the personal protector on punt coverage, even if he wasn’t doing team offense work. We also saw Jabari Small, who missed a couple practices and the preseason opener with what’s believed to be a knee injury, though that’s still unconfirmed. He’s in a tight fight for the RB4 role, so his return is clutch for his roster chances. Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle) got a ton of work with the second-team defense during nickel looks, and rookie edge rusher Derrick Moore (groin) was out there for the first time in almost two weeks, getting in one-on-one and special teams reps. It’s awesome to see so many guys pushing through to get back into the grind.
The Road Back: A Glimmer of Hope for Some
While some guys are already back in action, others are still battling to return. Fourth-round rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder, who picked up a leg injury early in camp, was working with a trainer for the first time. He had a big sleeve on his leg but was running at a pretty good pace, which is a huge positive after coach Dan Campbell said he’d miss “a while.” Subsequent reports said he avoided a major injury and would “miss some time,” so seeing him run is a relief. We’re all holding our breath to see if he can avoid injured reserve. Offensive tackle Devin Cochran was also putting in serious work with a trainer, trying to get back to provide some much-needed tackle depth for the squad.
The team definitely suffered a lot of little injuries during their preseason opener, and the “not practicing” list is still a bit long, with guys like RBs Isiah Pacheco and Kye Robichaux, TE Jackson Meeks, and EDGE Payton Turner out. Safeties Kerby Joseph (knee) and Brian Branch (Achilles) are still on PUP, which just reminds you how important every practice rep is right now. Getting fully healthy and building that chemistry is what matters most as we push through training camp and gear up for the start of the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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