Detroit Lions players will be back on the field in Allen Park for the start of the voluntary offseason training program in a little under two weeks, starting on April 17.
The NFL has released the offseason schedule for all 32 teams.
Each club's official, voluntary nine-week offseason program is conducted in three phases:
Phase One consists of the first two weeks of the program with activities limited to strength and conditioning and physical rehabilitation only.
Phase Two consists of the next three weeks of the program. On-field workouts may include individual player instruction and drills as well as team practice conducted on a "separates" basis. No live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted.
Phase Three consists of the next four weeks of the program. Teams may conduct a total of 10 days of organized team practice activity, or "OTAs". No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted.
The Lions will then hold a mandatory, three-day minicamp June 13-15 before taking a break until the start of training camp.
Each club may also hold a rookie football development program for a period of seven weeks, which in 2017 can begin on May 15. During this period, no activities may be held on weekends, with the exception of one post-NFL Draft rookie minicamp, which may be conducted on either the first or second weekend following the draft. The dates of each club's post-draft rookie minicamps will be circulated at a later date.
The NFL Offseason Workout Program calendar (dates are tentative and subject to change):
DETROIT:
First Day: April 17
*OTA Offseason Workouts: *May 23-25, May 30-31, June 1, June 5-6, June 8-9
*Mandatory Minicamp: *June 13-15
