The Detroit Lions are heading into their huge Week 7 division opener against the 4-2 Green Bay Packers this Sunday at Ford Field with what looks like a ridiculously good bill of health. We’re talking every single player on the active roster showing up for Tuesday’s practice, signaling a massive boost as they kick off their first division game of the season at 4:25 p.m. ET.
The Coach’s Post-Bye Brain Trust
This full-squad showing isn’t just luck, it’s a direct result of Coach Dan Campbell’s smart strategy coming out of the bye week. The Lions pulled a common move from this coaching regime, shifting their first practice from Wednesday to Tuesday. Why? Campbell laid it out himself on Monday, saying, “That’s one of the reasons why we’re practicing tomorrow and not Wednesday, so, we can push some of these guys a little bit knowing they’re going into a day off. I think that’ll help a little bit.” It was all about giving returning players Brian Branch and Cade Mays a huge workload and then giving everyone a full Wednesday to recover their bodies. What a chess move! Both Branch and Mays are set to make their 2026 debuts this week, and having them get a full, intense practice in before a recovery day is exactly what you want to see. Plus, reserve cornerback Rock Ya-Sin, who was sidelined last game with a hamstring injury, was back out there too.
Not Full Strength, But Full of Fight
Now, let’s keep it real, it’s Week 7 in the NFL, so calling the Lions “fully healthy” would be a bit of a stretch. Just last week, they had to place three key players on injured reserve: wide receiver Tom Kennedy, who is unfortunately done for the season; guard Ben Bartch; and linebacker Devin White, who’s looking at a couple of months out with a broken forearm. On top of that, Isiah Pacheco, Kendrick Law, Avonte Maddox, and Thomas Harper are also still on injured reserve. But even with those hits, the Lions’ injury luck this year has definitely been better than what we’ve seen in previous seasons. They’re going to need every hand on deck for this pivotal Week 7 matchup against a surging Packers squad, especially with the undefeated Vikings waiting for them in Week 8.
The stakes are high for this Sunday’s showdown with the Packers. This is the first division game, and it sets the tone. We’ll get a more thorough injury report when the Lions drop their first official practice designations on Wednesday, but for now, knowing every active player was out there today? That’s got to make you feel good. Get ready for Sunday, it’s going to be a battle!
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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