The Detroit Lions kicked off their first open practice following the bye week with a mix of good and bad news. While a few players remained sidelined, several others made long-awaited returns to the field.
Back in action were safety Daniel Thomas, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, defensive back Avonte Maddox, and rookie running back Sione Vaki. Both Thomas (forearm) and Rodriguez (knee) had their 21-day activation windows opened earlier this week, allowing them to ramp up toward potential returns. They remain on injured reserve for now but can rejoin the active roster once cleared within that period.
Vaki, who has been unavailable for over a month, could be ready to suit up when the Lions face the Minnesota Vikings this weekend. Meanwhile, Maddox, sidelined the last two games with a hamstring problem, took an encouraging step forward in his recovery — a key boost for Detroit’s secondary depth at nickelback and safety.
The defense also got Brian Branch back on Tuesday after he served his suspension. Cornerback Terrion Arnold, who practiced briefly last week, was seen participating again. Arnold has missed two consecutive contests after aggravating a shoulder injury.
However, not everyone was present. The Lions practiced without Kerby Joseph (knee), Craig Reynolds (hamstring), and Al-Quadin Muhammad (undisclosed issue). Veteran left tackle Taylor Decker wasn’t initially spotted during the open portion, but later appeared at practice. He’s expected to continue easing back into full participation by the end of the week after additional rehab time on Wednesday’s off day.
Decker started before the bye after sitting out two games, and given his experience, the team isn’t overly concerned about his limited practice reps.
The status of Muhammad remains uncertain, as he was not listed with an injury following the win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. More clarity is expected once the official practice report is released.
As for Joseph, he missed the Bucs matchup while allowing his knee more rest — his first absence of the season. The third-year safety has been dealing with knee discomfort since training camp. Both head coach Dan Campbell and Joseph expressed optimism that the bye week would help his recovery. The team now plans to assess his readiness later in the week.
Despite the lingering issue, Joseph has been one of Detroit’s defensive standouts, logging three interceptions in seven games. Safeties coach Jim O’Neill praised his effort and professionalism throughout the recovery process.
“He’s in here early getting treatment, staying late in meetings — doing everything possible to get right,” O’Neill said. “He’s handled it like a pro and has been a great example for the younger guys. Even with the injury, he’s still playing at a high level.”
Meanwhile, Reynolds and cornerback D.J. Reed were seen working off to the side with trainers. Reed still has one more week remaining on injured reserve before becoming eligible to rejoin practice.
