Any hope of the Detroit Lions getting healthier after several players sat out Wednesday’s practice session was dashed on Thursday. The Lions added quite a few more players to the no participation list for the second practice in advance of the Week 14 trip to the Denver Broncos.
A full 21 players did not practice on Thursday, and that figure does not include rookie CB Bobby Price. The Lions placed Price on the reserve/COVID-19 list one day after he missed practice. Price joins starting center Evan Brown on the list. Several of the players were designated with “not injury related” status, an indication they were given time off to help prevent getting sick.
Of the 21 players who sat out, only five were directly due to injuries. The rest were held out by the team in hopes of staving off further ravaging by the undisclosed illness. Coach Dan Campbell indicated on Wednesday that it was not COVID-19, but Price’s updated status calls that into question.
Quarterback Jared Goff did return to practice, the only player who was sidelined with illness on Wednesday to appear on Thursday.
Of the actual injured Lions, tight end T.J. Hockenson and running back D’Andre Swift both sat out. Hockenson did indicate that there were no broken bones in his injured hand and that he expects to play vs. the Broncos. Swift’s status remains cloudy with one more practice before the team makes the official game designation.