The Detroit Lions received some encouraging injury news on Thursday, with veteran linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin returning to practice. Although Reeves-Maybin remains on injured reserve due to a neck injury sustained against the Green Bay Packers, his return to practice means the Lions now have 21 days to assess his readiness. While it’s unclear when exactly the Lions will activate him, he is eligible to come off IR whenever the team deems it appropriate.
This development is somewhat unexpected, especially considering the last update from head coach Dan Campbell on December 9, which gave little indication of Reeves-Maybin’s imminent return.
“Jalen Reeves-Maybin is improving, but progress is slow at the moment. I’m not sure where he stands right now. There’s a possibility we’ll have him in a few weeks, but there’s also a chance we won’t. So, this is basically where we are.”
The Lions could certainly benefit from having Reeves-Maybin back in the lineup, as their linebacker corps has been heavily impacted by injuries. In addition to Reeves-Maybin, Derrick Barnes, Alex Anzalone, and Malcolm Rodriguez are all on injured reserve, with only Anzalone expected to return this season. However, with Reeves-Maybin’s return, along with Trevor Nowaske coming back after missing Sunday’s game against the Bills due to a concussion and the recent signing of Anthony Pittman, the linebacker group now appears to be in better shape compared to recent weeks.
Without this depth, the Lions have had to rely on players added mid-season, such as Ezekiel Turner, David Long, Kwon Alexander, and Jamal Adams. Last week, this makeshift unit struggled to contain the Bills’ running backs (eight catches, 156 yards) and tight ends (six catches, 95 yards) in the passing game.
Reeves-Maybin has long been one of Detroit’s top third-down and coverage linebackers, while also providing a significant boost on special teams. How the Lions move forward with him remains to be seen, but it appears they will likely have him available for their playoff push.
