As it has gotten later in the season, with a nod to having an early bye week (Week 5), the Detroit Lions have often had lighter practices on Wednesdays. With a short week between Monday night's win over the San Francisco 49ers and Sunday night's big game against the Minnesota Vikings, Wednesday was one of those lighter days as the team conducted a walkthrough.
So the practice participation level of players on Wednesday were merely estimates if there had been a full practice. A return to a normal practice on Thursday will be more telling for player's statuses for Sunday night's game.
First Lions practice report for Week 18 features a notable return
Here's a look at Wednesday's practice report for the Lions (FP=Full participant, LP=Limited participant, NP=Non-participant).
- RB David Montgomery (knee)-NP
- CB Emmanuel Moseley (illness)-NP
- LB Alex Anzalone (arm)-LP
- LB Jack Campbell (rib)-LP
- CB Amik Robertson (calf)-LP
- WR Kalif Raymond (foot)-FP
The headline here is Anzalone. Despite an initial report he wouldn't be playing on Sunday night, and all that may have insinuated, the Lions opened his 21-day activation window on Wednesday as he works toward a return from the broken forearm he suffered back in Week 11.
Head coach Dan Campbell confirmed Anzalone's return to practice when he spoke with the media on Wednesday, while highlighting the importance of Thursday's practice for the team captain.
"He’ll be out there running around today, so we’ll see how he does,” Campbell said. “It’s really going to be how he—tomorrow is going to be a really big day for us, to see where he’s at.”
As expected, Montgomery continues to not practice as he rehabs the MCL injury in his right knee. A return for the Divisional Round of the playoffs is still possible.
Moseley did not play a single snap against the 49ers, so the illness he was listed with on Wednesday may go back a few days. This is of course the teeth of cold and flu season, so time will tell how quickly Moseley bounces back.
Campbell and Robertson both played every defensive snap against the 49ers, and being estimated as limited participants on Wednesday is better than the alternative. How they are listed on Thursday's practice report stands to be worth noting.
Raymond has logged four full practices since having his 21-day evaluation opened last week. He could be activated in time to play on Sunday night.