The Detroit Lions have a long list of banged up players, but Dan Campbell’s updates on Monday were mostly positive.
A long list of injured Detroit Lions warranted some kind update coming out of the bye week. Head coach Dan Campbell had one piece of bad news, with defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike out for the season after back surgery.
But otherwise, Campbell’s updates were mostly promising. He spoke broadly first, via Pride of Detroit, then got into specific players.
Injury-wise, we’re a little bit better,” Campbell said. “I don’t know how far along we’ll be until Wednesday, but I know everyone feels a little bit better. How much? We’ll see.”
Defensive lineman John Cominsky has surgery after suffering a wrist injury in Week 2, and it sounds like he could return Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. Despite missing the last three games, he leads the Lions with 10 quarterback pressures.
I know Cominsky, it looks pretty promising for him,” Campbell said.
Rookie defensive lineman Josh Paschal (hernia surgery) and second-year cornerback Jerry Jacobs (torn ACL in Week 14 last year) got similar positive sentiment from Campbell on Monday.
Paschal had another good week last week,” Campbell said. “I know we only had a couple of practices, but he’s put two weeks (in), back-to-back, has been pretty good. So we’ll see where he’s at.”
The good news about Jerry is, man, when he’s physically ready, you know you can take him into the game because he’s going to help on special teams immediately. Now, you’ve got him in the game. Now it’s, okay, you can sprinkle him in outside or maybe we do feel good at nickel. He brings value to the roster, at a minimum, just to have on gameday because he does so many things.”
It certainly sounds like Jacobs will play against the Cowboys, and be firmly in the mix at the outside corner spot opposite Jeff Okudah.
Detroit Lions injury updates mostly positive out of the bye week
As Romeo Okwara has crossed over the one-year mark since his torn Achilles in Week 4 last season, Campbell confirmed the plan is still for him to play sometime this season. As much as that feels odd to confirm as the plan, it is good news.
Yeah, that’s the plan,” Campbell said. “He is progressing. He’s doing a good job. There again, the Achilles is just happening at a different rate, but he’s doing a good job. You guys know ‘Rome,’ he puts in the work, man. It’s coming. When he’s ready, he’ll be out there.”
Campbell confirmed rookie wide receiver Jameson Williams (torn ACL) will not play against the Cowboys. Fullback Jason Cabinda (ankle) seems to have a better chance to play this week, but Campbell doesn’t see it happening either.
I don’t see any of those guys (Williams and Cabinda) (returning this week),” Campbell said. “They’re all on track. I think Cabinda is coming in a hurry, but I don’t know if I necessarily see him (returning) this week.”
The Lions are getting healthier with the benefit of the bye week–as expected. It can only help turn a 1-4 record into more wins from here on out.