With a Monday night game coming against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17, the Detroit Lions started their practice week a day later than usual. Thursday saw wide receiver Kalif Raymond return to practice, as he moves toward a return from IR.
The Lions have of course been smacked hard by injuries this season, but in a broad sense there has been a lot of good news on that front recently. Raymond's return to practice is just the latest, with no further additions to a lengthy IR list during the holiday week. Roster moves that have been made this week point to the return of some injured players being around the corner.
Late-season practice reports can get lengthy, on the idea that "everybody's some level of banged up." With that in mind, the Lions don't look too bad heading into Week 17.
Second Lions Week 17 practice report looks pretty good
Here's a look at Friday's practice report for the Lions (FP=Full participant, LP=Limited participant, NP=Non-participant).
- RB David Montgomery (knee)-NP
- CB Terrion Arnold (illness)-LP
- OG Graham Glasgow (knee)-FP
- WR Kalif Raymond (foot)-FP
- LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (neck)-FP
Montgomery's absence from practice will continue until further notice, as he rehabs his MCL injury and avoids what would have been season-ending surgery. He could return in the playoffs, so any chance he goes on IR has already come and gone.
Arnold missed Thursday's practice due to an illness, so progress to limited participation on Friday is a good sign for his availability Monday night.
Glasgow logged another full practice on Thursday, further confirming Dan Campbell's expectation back on Monday that the Lions' left guard will be back in the lineup after missing last week's game.
Reeves-Maybin made a surprise return to practice last week, and it appears he's close to being activated from IR after being a full participant again on Friday. It would actually be surprising if the veteran linebacker is not activated when roster moves are announced on Saturday.
As mentioned Raymond returned to practice on Thursday, but he does not seem likely to be activated and play on Monday night.
The Lions have two open spots on the 53-man roster right now.
There were no surprise additions or setbacks on the Lions injury report Friday, which is obviously a good thing with the final injury report of week coming on Saturday.