The Detroit Lions were back at it on Thursday and they got a nice boost as they continue to prepare for their Week 1 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
According to a report from Jeff Risdon, Julian Okwara returned to practice on Thursday, which is a great sign as the 2022 regular season is just 10 days away.
Unfortunately, it was not all good news for the Lions as five other players missed practice.
Here are the five players who missed Thursday’s practice for one reason or another.
- DE Austin Bryant
- S Ifeatu Melifownu
- CB Amani Oruwariye
- DT Levi Onwuzurike
- TE T.J. Hockenson
Melifonwu and Onwuzurike missing practice comes as no surprise as they have each been dealing with an injury. That being said, it is unknown why Oruwariye, Bryant, and Hockenson missed practice.
Dan Campbell has good news regarding Julian Okwara
Here is what Dan Campbell had to say about Julian Okwara last week.
“Yeah, it’s really just lower leg. We’re hoping for Philly for when he’ll be back,” Campbell said. “He’s probably got the best shot of all (the injured players) of them to be ready for Philly.”
“That’s where he’s really got to excel and then in the meantime,” Campbell said last month, “we’re in base, he needs to be able to get better at the SAM linebacker, taking on blocks, attacking on the perimeter, certainly rushing from when we ask him to go, and it’s base and it’s run action, the offense is giving him run action. Man, that transition from attacking run to now, ‘I got to rush the quarterback.’ Little things like that, something that (Lions edge defender) Charles (Harris) really excelled at last year and that will be the next step for him.”
