The Detroit Lions started training camp practices Wednesday at the Meijer Performance Center minus a few veterans, but they also got a couple contributors back on the field after they were initially listed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
Cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Amik Robertson and wide receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones and Tre'Quan Smith were placed on the Active/Non-Football Injury list Wednesday morning and didn't take part in practice. They joined veteran defensive tackle DJ Reader (PUP) as players starting camp sidelined due to injury. It's worth noting players can be taken off NFI or PUP at any point during camp and return to practice.
The good news on the injury front coming out of practice Wednesday was second-year defensive back Brian Branch and veteran edge rusher Marcus Davenport, who both sat out all of the offseason training program in the spring rehabbing injuries, were taken off PUP and took part in practice in a limited fashion. Rookie offensive lineman Giovanni Manu was also taken off NFI prior to practice.
"We feel like everybody's really doing well," head coach Dan Campbell said before Wednesday's practice on the status of players dealing with injury to begin camp. "On schedule for where we pictured them to be. We talked about Reader. Reader's on course, man. We're not in any hurry with him, but he's doing well, he's getting his strength back. The injury has healed, it's just a matter of getting him to that point where now we feel comfortable getting him out there competing around others.
"You'll see Davenport out there today, you'll see Branch out there today in walkthrough, so these guys are slowly going. I think Davenport is going to be a little quicker than Branch is, but they'll both be out there in some capacity, which is a good sign. So, no setbacks, we're moving right along."
EMOTIONAL MOMENT
There would be no blaming veteran cornerback Emmanuel Moseley if he got a little emotional Wednesday stepping onto the field to begin his seventh career training camp practice. This time last year Moseley was rehabbing a torn ACL suffered the year prior in San Francisco.
He finally worked himself back on the field Week 5 last year and tore the ACL in his other knee just two plays into the game against Carolina. He's battled to get back a second time and it was great to see him playing with no restrictions to start camp.
"I really almost got emotional because you just don't know," Moseley said after practice. "There's a lot of unknowns when you go through two ACLs. You are in your head 24/7.
"I have a lot of gratitude to be back on this field after my second ACL. First day of practice, that was one of my goals. I've accomplished it and now I'm just ready to see how far I can take it."
Moseley played in the slot Wednesday and said he likes the physical aspect of playing inside. The plan is for him to play both inside and outside during camp. He played just 109 snaps total in the slot in his five seasons in San Francisco from 2018-2022 but said Wednesday he likes being close to the ball in the nickel.
It's just another option for the Lions in their revamped secondary.
View photos of players arriving for 2024 Detroit Lions training camp.
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Maurice Alexander (1) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions kicker Michael Badgley (17) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Kyle Peko (96) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Morice Norris (39) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Ben Niemann (51) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (19) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaiah Williams (83) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions guard Kevin Zeitler (71) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jake Funk (36) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Mathieu Betts (95) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill (54) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Josh Paschal (93) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (91) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Duke Clemens (63) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety C.J. Moore (38) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Chelen Garnes (35) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Nate Sudfeld (8) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions long snapper Scott Daly (47) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Michael Niese (62) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker James Houston (41) arrives to the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 24, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
SCHEDULED RAMP UP
The NFL has a four-practice acclimation period to start training camp before teams are allowed to put on pads. That will consist of Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the Lions and then a mandatory day off Sunday. Campbell said the pads will come on Monday, which is when training camp really begins.
"It's about working guys in this week and let's get them the reps," Campbell said. "Let's spread the load and let's get their legs under them, let's get their football legs under them and then along the way improve a little bit here. There's not a ton of reps to go around.
"There's a restriction on time limits every day. (Wednesday) can only be 90 minutes, then you get an hour and 45 minutes, and then after that, two hours. So, we're well within the rules, but it's really it, it's getting their football legs under them."
