Latest Lions Injury Updates: Where Key Players Stand After OTAs
· Yahoo Sports
Through two weeks of OTAs, we have started to get some updates on the following players recovering from injuries: Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, DJ Reed, Terrion Arnold, Sam LaPorta, and Ennis Rakestraw. Dan Campbell has touched on each player in various media sessions. Not listed is Kendrick Law, the fifth-round rookie who tore his ACL and is done for the season.
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Sam LaPorta
LaPorta suffered a back injury in Week 10 against the Commanders. There was slim hope that he would be able to return, but ultimately he opted for season-ending back surgery, where doctors repaired a herniated disk.
LaPorta was held out of early OTAs but has made his way back to limited sessions. He completed a 30-minute walkthrough and jogging session before stepping off the field to continue his rehab.
Target return: Dan Campbell and the medical staff are easing him back slowly, prioritizing his long-term health over spring practices. He is expected to be fully cleared for padded practices by the start of training camp and ready to go for Week 1.
Terrion Arnold
Arnold played in five games before injuring his shoulder, which many believed would be season-ending at the time. Arnold would miss just two weeks and return to the field, only to sustain a concussion in Week 10. Arnold returned two weeks later, but the season would come to an end when he re-injured his shoulder, resulting in shoulder surgery.
OTAs have been a cautious process for Arnold. Similar to LaPorta, Arnold has mostly done 30-minute walkthroughs and jogging sessions. He has not participated in any full-team competitive drills.
Arnold has stated that he is fully recovered and has been posting various videos of himself at full speed. Detroit expects him to be a full participant without limitations by the time training camp begins.
Ennis Rakestraw
Rakestraw suffered a season-ending shoulder injury before the season began. He has appeared in only six games through his first two seasons with Detroit.
Dan Campbell made some positive comments about Rakestraw, stating, “There is nothing that would tell me he won’t be ready for training camp.” Campbell also went on to say, “He’s where he’s supposed to be right now, in early June.”
Campbell also mentioned that Rakestraw has begun to bulk up this offseason to help his body hold up better and has no reason to believe he can’t withstand a full season.
Brian Branch
Branch is one of the biggest injuries Detroit suffered last season, as he tore his Achilles in Week 15.
Dan Campbell joked during minicamp that he is intentionally widening Branch’s return window to December 2026, stating that “anything before that is a bonus.” Although it was a joke, it seems like the Lions will be taking things slowly with him.
Campbell and the Lions have confirmed that he is a strong candidate to start the season on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list. If he is placed on PUP, he will be forced to miss at least the first four weeks of the season.
Branch’s rehab has been going according to plan, with no setbacks.
Kerby Joseph
Joseph remains one of the biggest injury questions on the roster.
Joseph played the first four weeks before going down with a knee injury in Week 4. He returned the following week and played 100% of the snaps, but in Week 6 he suffered what would become a season-ending injury.
Joseph has been held out of all drills, and Campbell touched on his injury, stating, “Yeah really, I don’t know. I do not know,” when asked if he would be ready for Week 1.
Campbell also went on to say:
• “I know this, we have done everything that we can do and he has done everything he can do to this point.”
• “We are trying to be as smart as we can and not push this until we absolutely have to because once we’ve done that then we’ll know one way or another.”
• “It’s not worth it right now. We’re just slowly building, continuing to strengthen, he’s getting treatment, he’s done some of these different things at different places to try to help.”
• “I feel good about that we have done everything we can and so has he.”
• “We won’t know until we get into the thick of training camp.”
It is clear Detroit is in no hurry to rush him back for drills that could re-aggravate his injury.
DJ Reed
Reed suffered a Grade 3 hamstring injury that sidelined him for six weeks after his Week 4 matchup. When he returned, it was clear Reed was not the same player.
During OTAs, Reed told reporters that his “extra gear” has officially returned. Campbell also confirmed Reed looks excellent and has been running at full speed and moving freely.
Reed did something out of the ordinary this offseason, traveling to Panama to receive advanced stem cell treatment, noting that he got the idea from 49ers All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner.
Reed has been unrestricted throughout OTAs, gaining meaningful reps with newly added defensive backs such as Roger McCreary, Chuck Clark, and Christian Izien.