As it has gotten later in the season, with a nod to having an early bye week (Week 5), the Detroit Lions have often had lighter practices on Wednesdays. With a short week between Monday night’s win over the San Francisco 49ers and Sunday night’s big game against the Minnesota Vikings, Wednesday was one of those lighter days as the team conducted a walkthrough. So the practice participation level of players on Wednesday were merely estimates if there had been a full practice. A return to a normal practice on Thursday will be more telling for player’s statuses for Sunday night’s game.
The first Lions practice report for Week 18 includes a notable return. Here’s a look at the Lions’ practice report from Wednesday (FP = Full participant, LP = Limited participant, NP = Non-participant). RB David Montgomery (knee)-NP CB Emmanuel Moseley (illness)-NP LB Alex Anzalone (arm)-LP LB Jack Campbell (rib)-LP CB Amik Robertson (calf)-LP WR Kalif Raymond (foot)-FP
The Lions have opened Anzalone’s 21-day activation window as he recovers from a broken forearm suffered in Week 11. Head coach Dan Campbell confirmed Anzalone’s return to practice and emphasized the importance of Thursday’s practice for the team captain.
“He’ll be out there running around today, so we’ll see how he does,” Campbell said. “It’s really going to be how he—tomorrow is going to be a really big day for us, to see where he’s at.” Montgomery, as predicted, has not practiced since suffering an MCL injury in his right knee. A return to the Divisional Round of the playoffs remains possible. Moseley did not play a single snap against the 49ers, so the ailment he was labeled with on Wednesday could date back a few days. This is, of course, the peak of cold and flu season, so time will tell how soon Moseley recovers.
Campbell and Robertson each played every defensive snap against the 49ers, and being classified as a limited participant on Wednesday is preferable than the alternative. How they are listed on Thursday’s practice report is worth mentioning. Raymond has had four full practices since his 21-day review began last week. He may be activated in time to play on Sunday night.
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