Ahead of their first training camp practice, the Detroit Lions have put some players on the PUP and NFI lists.
As NFL training camps get going around the league, teams are determining if injured players can practice and using the Physically Unable to Perform and Non-Football Injury lists, or PUP and NFI for short.
On Sunday, the Detroit Lions joined the “party”. Per the team’s announcement, rookie wide receiver Jameson Williams and linebacker Natrez Patrick have been placed on the Active/NFI list, while rookie defensive lineman Josh Paschal, defensive end Romeo Okwara and cornerback Jerry Jacobs have been placed on the PUP list.
#Lions announce the following transactions:
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) July 24, 2022
Placed Jerry Jacobs, Romeo Okwara and Josh Paschal on Active/PUP
Placed Jameson Williams and Natrez Patrick on Active/Non-Football Injury
There’s really no difference between the two lists, as players can be taken off at any point in camp and be able to practice. Staying on the lists into the season would require missing at least the first four games.
Williams suffered a torn ACL in January’s national title game while playing while playing for Alabama. As explained by Pride of Detroit, since it occurred in college it’s not a “football injury” as far as the NFL is concerned. Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Williams wasn’t likely to be ready for the start of training camp. Now the question is how many practices he’ll miss, followed closely by what his status for Week 1 will be.
Okwara suffered a torn Achilles in Week 4 last season, while Jacobs suffered a torn ACL in Week 14. Their inclusions on the PUP list are not surprising. Williams also was a prime candidate for one of the lists.
Detroit Lions’ PUP and NFI lists are telling, good and bad
Paschal missed a lot of offseason work due to a lower body injury dating back to last season at Kentucky. Now he’s on the PUP list. While he could be taken off before the coming week is out, that he’s still limited enough to be placed on the PUP list is a concern until further notice.
On the good side, it looks like it’s all systems go for cornerback Jeff Okudah at the start of camp. The third overall pick in the 2020 draft had an injury-hampered rookie season, then he suffered a torn Achilles in last year’s season opener.
Rookie tight end James Mitchell, who suffered a torn ACL early last season at Virginia Tech, also looks to be full strength for the start of camp.
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