Good news, Lions fans! Key defensive players are making their way back to the field, promising a boost to the team as they head towards crucial games. Let's dive into the details.
On Wednesday, the Detroit Lions opened the 21-day return windows for edge defender Marcus Davenport and cornerback DJ Reed. This means both players, who have been sidelined due to injuries, are now back at practice and have three weeks to get back into game shape before being officially activated.
DJ Reed, who has been out since Week 4 due to a hamstring injury, is expected to return to action around or after Thanksgiving, according to coach Dan Campbell. Reed's return is a significant boost for the Lions' defense. Before his injury, he had one interception, one fumble recovery, and 16 tackles in just four games. His performance earned him a ranking of 20th among cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus. He's also the fourth-best run defender at his position, which the Lions highly value. In coverage, Reed has been stellar, allowing only 11 receptions on 18 targets with no touchdowns, resulting in a passer rating of 61.3, the seventh-best among starting cornerbacks.
But here's where it gets controversial... Davenport's situation has been a bit more uncertain since suffering a pectoral injury in Week 2. While the team has always been confident in his eventual return, a specific timeline has been elusive. Coach Campbell remains optimistic, stating he is "very confident he is going to be back."
While Davenport has been out, Al-Quadin Muhammad and Tyler Lacy have stepped up, filling in alongside Aidan Hutchinson on the defensive line. The Lions' defense has been performing well, currently ranking fourth in the NFL with 30 team sacks in nine games. Hutchinson leads the league with 57 pressures, and Muhammad has 32. Davenport's return will provide another strong pass rusher to the rotation.
And this is the part most people miss... Davenport's injury history is something to watch, as he's only played in eight games over the last three seasons. The Lions will likely ease him back into action to avoid re-injury.
In other injury news, the Lions were without safety Kerby Joseph (knee), cornerback Terrion Arnold (concussion protocol), right tackle Penei Sewell, edge Aidan Hutchinson, tight end Brock Wright, and running back Sione Vaki. We'll get more details on their specific conditions when the official practice report is released.
Sewell, who left Sunday's game against the Commanders, returned and reported feeling better as the game progressed.
What do you think, Lions fans? Are you optimistic about these players' returns? Do you think Davenport's injury history will impact his performance? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
