Dan Campbell offers injury update on Ifeatu Melifonwu heading into Week 1

Over the course of training camp, several key Detroit Lions' players dealt with injuries to some degree. The day after the preseason finale brought the return to practice for a lot of those players, quelling concerns about Week 1.

Head coach Dan Campbell provided an injury update on Monday, heading into the week of preparation for the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. He highlighted one player who is a question mark, safety Ifeatu Melifonwu.

"Iffy'd be the only right now who's still not sure," Campbell said. "Still not sure on him. We're gonna try to get him moving around a little bit today and tomorrow and see where he's at. Everyone else, we're good."

DJ Reader is likely not included in the realm of "everyone else." Campbell has hinted the goal for the defensive tackle, after he spent training camp on the PUP list, is Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After the final preseason game, Campbell gave a vague, almost concerning, injury outlook on Melifonwu. He played in the second preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, but has been out since. Campbell added a bit, emphasis on a bit, more context to the situation on Monday, via Richard Silva of the Detroit News.

"It's really something that's just been lingering, even before that (Kansas City game)," Campbell said. "It's slow-moving, that's all. It's slow-healing, and take it as it comes."

Lions injury report: How much time might Ifeatu Melifonwu miss?

Amid Campbell saying as little as he can about it, and he has not been required to disclose anything specific, there had been no indication of Melfonwu's exact injury. But when he's listed on daily practice reports, and Friday's official injury report with a status for Sunday night's game against the Rams, the world will know.

In his post regarding what Campbell said Monday about Melifonwu, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press revealed what the injury is.

"Melifonwu missed the last week of training camp after he received treatment last month for an Achilles tendon injury."

With Campbell saying he'd be out moving around on the practice field a bit on Monday and Tuesday, it's fair to assume Melifonwu is not dealing with a torn/ruptured Achilles' tendon of any degree. In the realm of Achilles' injuries, that's of course good news.

Melifonwu should be considered questionable for Week 1 until further notice though, and beyond that his status can only be guessed right now.