Cincinnati Bengals nose tackle D.J. Reader (98) warms up before an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
The Detroit Lions took the field on Thursday, with 87 of their 89 roster members there and practicing in some capacity. The exceptions were rookie guard Christian Mahogany and defensive tackle DJ Reader. However, both athletes’ future prospects are good.
Mahogany has been struggling with a sickness, which has kept him out of back-to-back training camp practices.
“Mahogany is dealing with an illness right now, which is why he’s not out there,” coach Dan Campbell explained. “As he heals up here, we’ll get him out here and get him going but that’s what’s going on there.”
Reader made some progress during Thursday’s workout. He was out on the field with a trainer, running up the hill and doing other sprinting drills while wearing protective gear around his right leg. Reader tore his right quad in December of last season while with the Bengals.
Campbell reported that Reader’s injury had recovered. It’s now just an issue of trusting your leg and fitness.
“We’re not in any hurry with him, but he’s doing well, he’s getting his strength back,” Campbell told the reporter. “The injury has healed, it’s just a matter of getting him to that point where now we feel comfortable getting him out there competing around others.”
Limited number of players
While the Lions are not required to provide an injury report during training camp, three key players are nevertheless limited in their participation: running back Jahmyr Gibbs, defensive end Marcus Davenport, and defensive back Brian Branch. Gibbs has been limited to walkthroughs and individual drills, whilst Branch and Davenport have primarily done walkthroughs.
Gibbs missed the spring season due to what Campbell described as a “soft tissue” injury, while Branch underwent an offseason clean-up treatment and Davenport is still recovering from a high-ankle sprain that required surgery.
Campbell emphasized Thursday the importance of Branch and Davenport being able to avoid the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
“We anticipated they wouldn’t be 100% on day one of full practice. But being able to keep them off PUP, NFI, or anything else so that they can do the walkthroughs, perhaps a little more individually, I believe goes a long way,” Campbell explained. “It’s great to have them out there. “They are both doing well.”
Terrion Arnold, a member of the Lions’ special teams, needed medical attention for his lower body during team drills. However, after a few minutes with a trainer, he returned to the field.
