Here’s a breakdown of the Detroit Lions’ first practice report ahead of their Week 17 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
Typically, Wednesday marks the first practice day of the week for the Lions. However, due to the Christmas holiday falling on Wednesday and the Monday night game against the 49ers, the team pushed its initial practice to Thursday.
The Lions have received promising news regarding injuries recently, with several players nearing a return from injured reserve. While it remains to be seen how this progress will unfold, having players get healthier as the regular season nears its end is a positive development for the team’s playoff hopes.
First Lions injury report for Week 17 includes another potential return
Here’s a look at Thursday’s practice report for the Lions (FP = Full participant, LP = Limited participant, NP = Non-participant):
- CB Terrion Arnold (illness): NP
- RB David Montgomery (knee): NP
- OG Graham Glasgow (knee): FP
- WR Kalif Raymond (foot): FP
- LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (neck): FP
A week after Reeves-Maybin unexpectedly returned to practice, starting his 21-day activation window from injured reserve, Raymond also made his return to the field on Thursday. Before practice, head coach Dan Campbell confirmed Raymond’s participation, sharing that it was a positive sign, though he wasn’t as confident about Raymond’s return to the active roster this week as he was about other players.
“He’ll start practicing (Thursday),” Campbell stated. “We’ll see where he is at. I don’t feel as confident with him (returning to the active roster this week), as I do with Germ, but it’s good to have him back out practicing, it’ll be good to have him back out there running around.”
Reeves-Maybin, who was a full participant on Thursday, still has 13 days remaining in his 21-day activation window, and there’s a chance he will be activated to play next Monday night.
Glasgow missed last week’s game against the Bears, but Campbell had expressed confidence on Monday that the starting left guard would be back for the San Francisco game, and his full participation on Thursday confirmed that.
As anticipated, Montgomery did not practice on Thursday. He remains off injured reserve for now, rehabbing his MCL injury rather than opting for season-ending surgery. He could potentially return for the playoffs.
Arnold, who appeared on Thursday’s injury report with an illness—a common issue this time of year—has yet to raise major concerns about his status for Monday night, but it’s something to monitor in the coming days.
