Tag: D’Andre Swift

Dan Campbell: D’Andre Swift will play in Week 1

Lions head coach Dan Campbell declares RB D’Andre Swift will play in Week 1 vs. the San Francisco 49ers

One of the bigger questions for the Detroit Lions entering the Week 1 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers has been answered in a positive way. Starting running back D’Andre Swift will be in the lineup for the Lions on Sunday.

Head coach Dan Campbell declared that Swift will be good to go for the 49ers in Ford Field on Sunday. In an interview with 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit on Tuesday morning, Campbell confirmed that Swift will play. He also noted that veteran defensive end Michael Brockers will be in the lineup, too.

Swift has battled a groin injury all summer, severely limiting his practice time and sidelining the second-year RB for the entire preseason.

ESPN’s potential team surprises list features a big year for Jamaal Williams

Williams leading the Lions in rushing isn’t as unrealistic as it might seem based on D’Andre Swift’s ongoing injury issue

A provocative new list from ESPN’s Dan Graziano features a “potential surprise” for each of the NFL’s 32 teams. Graziano’s listing for Detroit is an interesting one that might not be terribly surprising either.

The potential surprise is Jamaal Williams, and not D’Andre Swift, leading the Lions in rushing. And while at first blush it’s easy to get indignant about that idea, it’s not far-fetched.

More than once over the years, new Lions offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn has made it clear he likes to use multiple running backs — that he models this philosophy on the Carolina teams that used both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

Yes, the team has 2020 second-round pick D’Andre Swift on the roster. But it gave Williams a two-year, $6 million contract with $3.5 million guaranteed as a free agent. Detroit definitely plans to use him. Add in the fact that Swift has been dealing with injuries throughout camp, and it’s set up for Williams to assume a large role.

Williams struggled in the preseason, gaining just 15 yards on nine carries in the opener against the Buffalo Bills. But he’s looked sharp in training camp and is the clear No. 2 behind Swift. And Swift is indeed battling a groin injury that has prevented him from practicing much at all this summer.

This is one of those “surprises” that might be a legit reality. It also highlights why the Lions, who plan to run the ball heavily on offense, targeted an upgrade like Williams as the No. 2 back and also why Detroit kept four RBs on the 53-man roster.

Dan Campbell casts doubt on D’Andre Swift’s availability for Week 1

Lions coach Dan Campbell casts doubt on D’Andre Swift’s availability for Week 1 with the RB’s ongoing groin injury

Lions fans dreaming of a big second-year leap from talented running back D’Andre Swift, as well as fantasy football owners, got some rough news on Tuesday. Detroit head coach Dan Campbell provided an update on Swift’s injury status, and it’s not an overly optimistic outlook for No. 32 to be available at the start of the season.

Swift has missed almost all of training camp with a groin injury. He will not play in Friday night’s preseason finale against the Indianapolis Colts and hasn’t participated in anything more than individual drills in weeks. Even those proved too much for Swift last week, when he was idled for two days after going harder (relatively speaking) to test the groin.

“Swift concerns me a little bit just with getting his wind back and being able to take a blow and how much can he (play), where he’s at,” Campbell said prior to Tuesday’s practice session in Allen Park. “He’ll be out here (practicing on Tuesday). He’ll be more involved than he’s been. But those are the (injuries I’m worried about), to be honest with you.”

Campbell then expanded the answer, casting serious doubt on Swift’s availability for the Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers,

“Look, I’ll state the obvious here: He’s got ability, and there’s things that we feel like we can do with him offensively that will really benefit us. But we don’t know if he’s going to be there. We don’t know if he’ll be there. We don’t know, even if he is, how much we’re going to get out of him. And until we get him out to practice on a consistent basis, we won’t know that. So that’s just really the truth of it. That’s where we’re at.”

Campbell appears to be as concerned about Swift’s conditioning level and grasp of the offense as he is about the groin injury itself. Mental reps are one thing, but failing to get actual action in team drills against live defenses is concerning for Swift, who is learning coordinator Anthony Lynn’s new offensive scheme.

D’Andre Swift, T.J. Hockenson will not play vs. Steelers

Both Swift and Hockenson will do more in practice but are still not going to play in the exhibition game

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell ruled out starting RB D’Andre Swift and Pro Bowl TE T.J. Hockenson for Saturday’s preseason matchup in Pittsburgh with the Steelers. Campbell made the declaration in his pre-practice press conference on Thursday.

Swift has been dealing with a groin injury. He will get reps in the team drills portion of practice on Thursday after sitting out the last practice in street clothes. Swift has not been a full participant in practice since the first week of training camp.

Hockenson landed hard in a practice session late last week and has not done anything more than individual drills since. He will not be active in team drills in Thursday’s practice but is expected to return to a full workload next week, per Campbell.

In addition to Swift and Hockenson, starting defensive end Michael Brockers will also not play in the second preseason game. He also sat out last Friday’s preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills. Several other more established Lions are also not expected to play in Pittsburgh, though Campbell has yet to make any of them official.

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Video: Breaking down Don Muhlbach’s release, Jahlani Tavai’s roster chances and more

Lions training camp breakdown on Don Muhlbach’s release, Jahlani Tavai’s chances, Levi Onwuzurike’s return, D’Andre Swift’s injury and more

A lot has happened in Lions land over the last few days. From a car accident that injured a player to a venerable veteran being relieved of his duties, it’s been a busy week in Allen Park.

Instead of trying to write up separate thoughts on so many of the cuts, releases and injuries, I decided to talk through them all in a video. I offered up my more expansive thoughts on Don Muhlbach’s career, Levi Onwuzurike’s return from a back injury, the roster cutdowns and more.

Thanks to the Detroit Lions Podcast for editing and posting these as a bonus vlog episode.

Lions injury update: 10 players sit out practice No. 15

It might be time to start worrying a little more about D’Andre Swift…

There might be 85 players on the Detroit Lions roster after the flurrying roster activity on Tuesday, but only 75 were active at practice.

A full 10 players were idled from practice on Tuesday night, the final training camp practice session open to the public.

The players who were out, in alphabetical order:

  • DT Miles Brown (undisclosed injury)
  • OL Tyrell Crosby (hamstring)
  • CB Corn Elder (leg)
  • DE Da’Shawn Hand (ankle)
  • TE T.J. Hockenson (hip)
  • RB Dedrick Mills (undisclosed)
  • NT John Penisini (lower body)
  • RB D’Andre Swift (groin)
  • DT Nick Williams (COVID-19)
  • TE Brock Wright (undisclosed)

Swift appeared worse for the wear on Tuesday night. After participating in light conditioning work on Monday, Swift was completely idled for Tuesday’s practice. That’s not a good sign of progress, unfortunately.

In addition to the players who were out, backup QB Tim Boyle was extremely limited in practice. Boyle suffered an ankle injury in the preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills and is sporting a brace on the ankle. The Lions signed QB Jordan Ta’amu to help take reps for Boyle and third-stringer David Blough, who is actively participating but dealing with shoulder tightness.

The good news: second-round DE Levi Onwuzurike was a full participant for the first time all summer, and he bagged a sack on the very first rep of team drills.

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Dan Campbell offers injury updates on D’Andre Swift and Levi Onwuzurike

D’Andre Swift and Levi Onwuzurike have both missed most of training camp with injuries

Lions head coach Dan Campbell offered updates on the status of a couple of key young players who have been sidelined recently with injuries prior to Monday afternoon’s practice session.

Running back D’Andre Swift has not practiced in over a week and did not play in Friday night’s preseason opener against Buffalo. He’s been nursing a groin injury. Coach Campbell indicated that the second-year running back will not practice on Monday, but the plan is in place to have Swift work back in as a limited participant in Tuesday night’s practice.

Rookie DE Levi Onwuzurike is battling a back injury that predates his Lions tenure. His prognosis is improving, per Campbell.

“He’ll be out here (practicing),” Campbell said. “He’ll be limited but he’ll do indy (individual drills) and a couple of team reps. Then we’ll start to progress him so hopefully he gets a little bit more and he’s on the up-and-up … it’ time to get him his work.”

The Lions play their second preseason game at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday.

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