The Detroit Lions just kicked off their Week 1 practice on Tuesday, August 10, 2026, and get this: every single one of their 52 active roster players and 16 practice squad guys were out there on the field! This is exactly the kind of early season health report you want to see, especially after the grind of camp. It sets a positive tone right off the bat, letting everyone focus on football instead of rehab.
Everyone’s Back On The Field, Mostly!
Seriously, seeing almost a full house for the first official Week 1 practice is huge for team morale and preparation. The only player who wasn’t fully participating in individual drills was practice squad tackle Devin Cochran, who was with a trainer. But hey, for the main roster, that’s practically a clean bill of health for just getting started! You just love to see that kind of availability for early Week 1 prep.
This early turnout is a real relief for their safety position, too. Christian Izien and Thomas Harper, who both missed some time at the tail end of training camp, were back in action. Plus, rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder, their fourth-round pick, has returned after a leg injury kept him out for a month of practice. Coach Dan Campbell even confirmed that safety Kerby Joseph is back in the building after dealing with personal reasons, saying, “He’s here, he’s doing good, he’s ramping up.” With six other rostered linebackers, including veteran Joe Bachie, the unit has depth, which is always crucial.
But Don’t Get Too Excited: Key Players Still Sidelined
Now, before you go thinking it’s all sunshine and rainbows, we gotta talk about the guys who are technically “part of the team” but definitely not hitting the field anytime soon. Safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are both still on the Physically Unable to Perform list. That means they’re out for at least the first four games, even with a new NFL rule letting them start practicing after two games if they’re ready. That’s a massive blow to the secondary right out of the gate.
And the list doesn’t stop there. Linebacker Damone Clark, wide receiver Kendrick Law, and edge rusher Payton Turner are all on season-ending IR. Center Cade Mays and running back Isiah Pacheco are also on IR, though they might have a shot at returning later. Plus, OT Giovanni Manu is on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list and offensive lineman Mason Miller is on Practice Squad/IR. So while Tuesday’s practice looked great with so many players out there, there are still some serious hurdles to clear before Detroit is truly at full strength.
We’ll get the official injury report on Wednesday, which will give us a better idea of who’s actually ready to roll and who’s truly limited. Until then, seeing that many bodies on the field is a good start, but the depth chart still has some big holes that need to get healthy, and fast, if they want to make some serious noise early in the season. You gotta stay tuned for that official word!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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