Since they are playing on Monday night in Week 4, everything is a day later than normal for the Detroit Lions this week. Thursday was the first day of the practice week, with the subsequent injury report chronicling who didn't or didn't practice and their level of participation.
In a normal week with a Sunday game, the second practice day on Thursday tends to be more telling about where injured players are and how they might be listed on the final injury report for the week the next day. This week that second day of practice was Friday, so it was going to be interesting to see how the long list of injured players from Week 3 (those who aren't on IR, of course) were listed.
Here is the Lions' practice report for Friday.
- C Frank Ragnow (pectoral)-No practice
- S Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle)-No practice
- CB Ennis Rakestraw (hamstring)-Limited participant
- S Brian Branch (concussion)-Full participant
- TE Sam LaPorta (ankle)-Full participant
- DT Alim McNeill (shoulder)-Full participant
- DT Levi Onwuzurike (knee)-Full participant
- OT Dan Skipper (ribs)-Full participant
Second Lions' injury report for Week 4 is filled with good news
Ragnow has already been ruled out for Monday night by head coach Dan Campbell, and Melifonwu is headed for his fourth straight missed game to start the season (so why wasn't he put on IR right after roster cuts?).
Otherwise, it's a lot of good news for the Lions' on the injury front.
Anzalone has been removed from the practice report, which seemingly confirms he has cleared concussion protocol after missing last week's game.
Branch went from limited on Thursday to a full participant on Friday, which indicates progress through concussion protocol and an improving chance he'll be able to play on Monday night.
LaPorta moved from doing side work on Thursday, and being listed as a non-participant, to being a full participant on Friday. He has reportedly avoided a dreaded high ankle sprain, so it looks like he'll be able to go on Monday night.
McNeill declared to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic that he's playing Monday night. Graduating to a full practice on Friday was helpful to confirm that assertion.
Onwuzurike played with his injury last Sunday, and moving to being a full participant on Friday seems to indicate Thursday was a ramp up day.
Rakestraw has missed the last two games, so being limited in practice on back-to-back days is a small sign of progress.