The Detroit Lions have begun OTAs this week, and the team will hold its first session open to the media on Friday.
Ahead of practice, Lions head coach Dan Campbell addressed the media and listed a slew of players who will either be limited or not practicing at all due to a variety of reasons, none of which appear to be serious.
“These guys are either out or will be limited,” Campbell began before listing off the following players, a list that includes multiple rookies.
Lions out or limited at OTAs
- DL Myles Adams
- DL Brodic Martin
- DL Alim McNeill
- DL Levi Onwuzurike
- DE Josh Paschal
- DL D.J. Reader
- DL Tyleik Williams
- DL Mekhi Wingo
- LB Derrick Barnes
- LB Jack Campbell
- LB Malcolm Rodriguez
- CB Terrion Arnold
- S Brian Branch
- CB Khalil Dorsey
- CB Gavin Holmes
- G Myles Frazier
- TE Kenny Yeboah
- WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
- WR Isaac TeSlaa
- RB David Montgomery
- RB Sione Vaki
For the most part, it looks like the Lions are just being cautious with these guys, including the rookies. We do know that guys like McNeill (knee), Barnes (knee) and Dorsey (leg) are working their way back from serious injuries.
“That’s the list, and look, some of them are so minor,” Campbell added. “Like, the rookies, man, they’ve been training for the combine, all that, so we’re just trying to get some of these guys right physically.”
“Let’s get their bodies right, everything aligned right and then they’ll be ready for training camp. And a number of guys, we’re just trying to be smart, we’re just trying to be smart. We’ve got a little little dings here and there, so we’re just trying to make sure everybody is good.”
Aidan Hutchinson injury update
The most notable omission from that long out or limited list was edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who has been working his way back from a broken tibia and fibula suffered last season.
Hutchinson recently stated that he’s a full go now, and Campbell offered a positive update on how his star defender has looked.
“He’s moving well. You don’t see him favoring anything. He’s bending, he’s grabbing the grass, he looks confident,” Campbell revealed.
Two Lions absent from OTAs
Campbell also noted that there are two players who aren’t in attendance at all for OTAs, which, of course, is voluntary. The Lions head coach did not name the players, though, but didn’t sound concerned about their absences.
“There are two guys not here — I know who they are and where they are, and we’re all good,” Campbell said.
One could make an educated guess that one of the players not in attendance is Alex Anzalone, who has reportedly been sitting out the voluntary portion of the offseason program.
While Anzalone has not attended the voluntary program in the past, there is reason to believe his absence is contract-related this time around after he hinted he was looking for a new deal recently. Campbell was not asked about that situation.
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