Tag: Darryl Roberts

Lions activate Justin Coleman from injured reserve

The Detroit Lions announced they have activated starting slot corner Justin Coleman from injured reserve.

The Detroit Lions announced they have activated starting slot corner Justin Coleman from injured reserve.

There was no need for a corresponding move to make room for Coleman, as the Lions had released Elijah Lee on Thursday and had an open spot on the roster.

Coleman had a very solid training camp and opened the season impressively, but 19 snaps into Week 1 versus the Chicago Bears he injured his hamstring. From the moment he went down, it was clear this injury was going to take time to heal. After spending a few weeks on injured reserve, Coleman returned to practice last Thursday and coach Matt Patricia noted that he was “getting better every week”.

With Coleman returning to the starting lineup, Darryl Roberts will likely return to a reserve role. Roberts had been filling in during Coleman’s absence, and while he is a terrific tackler, his coverage was inconsistent and he was coming off his worst game of the season.

It’s possible Roberts will still get some work this week, as Coleman may need time to re-acclimate back to gameplay and Desmond Trufant is questionable with a hamstring injury, but expect him to still rep behind young up-and-comers Amani Oruwariye and Jeff Okudah.

Detroit Lions Week 8 injury designations: Taylor Decker, Desmond Trufant Questionable

The Detroit Lions (3-3) have declared their Week 8 injury designation for this week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts (4-2).

The Detroit Lions (3-3) have declared their Week 8 injury designation for this week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts (4-2) and four players, including three starters, are listed as questionable.

Here’s a look at the Lions’ injury report, with the updated changes in injury status listed in bold.

Injured reserve/PUP list

After releasing Elijah Lee yesterday, the Lions have an open spot on the 53-man roster, and with newly acquired Everson Griffen not able to join the team until at least Monday, there is a chance the plan is for Coleman or Bryant to be activated for this weekend’s game.

“No decision at the current moment, no,” coach Matt Patricia said about Coleman possibly returning this week. “We’re just going to get through practice today and then try to evaluate and make sure – see where everybody’s at.”

The Lions typically make these roster transactions on Saturday — roughy 4:00 pm EST — so keep an eye out for that tomorrow.

OUT

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
NONE

No players are designated as out at this time.

Questionable

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
Taylor Decker Shoulder  Not Listed Limited Practice No Practice Questionable
Desmond Trufant Hamstring No Practice Limited Practice Limited Practice Questionable
Darryl Roberts Groin/Hip  Not Listed Limited Practice Limited Practice Questionable
Jalen Reeves-Maybin Non-Injury related No Practice No Practice No Practice Questionable

Decker being listed as questionable is concerning, especially considering his practice trajectory is trending in the wrong direction and him being unable to practice on Friday. Decker will likely be re-evaluated on Saturday, but with the Lions hosting this week’s game, we likely won’t get an update on his status until Sunday during warmups.

If Decker is unable to play, expect Tyrell Crosby to shift from right tackle to left, Hal Vaitai from right guard to right tackle, and Joe Dahl to be promoted back into the starting lineup at guard.

Trufant getting back-to-back limited practices under his belt is encouraging, but he is by no means out of the woods yet, after being injured most of the season. If he plays, the Lions would likely prefer to work him in slowly with Amani Oruwariye and Jeff Okudah, but with questions surrounding both slot corners, they may not be able to wait.

In addition to Coleman still being on injured reserve, Roberts could also potentially miss this game. If he can play, it’s hard to say how much he will be able to handle as he is dealing with two separate injuries.

Reeves-Maybin missed the entire week with a non-COVID-19 personal issue. The level of concern surrounding his availability is unclear, but after the Lions released Lee yesterday, it’s fair to assume the Lions are hoping for him to return.

Not listed with an injury designation

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
Adrian Peterson Abdomen Not Listed Limited Practice Full Practice No injury designation

Peterson gave his abdomen a little rest on Wednesday but was back in full on Friday and is good to go for Sunday.

Detroit Lions Thursday Week 8 injury report: Desmond Trufant practices for first time in three weeks

Updating the Detroit Lions Week 8 injury report after Thursday’s practice.

After a walk-through on Wednesday, the Detroit Lions (3-3) were back on the practice field on Thursday, preparing for their upcoming Week 8 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts (4-2).

Here’s a look at the Lions’ injury report, with the updated changes in injury status listed in bold.

Injured reserve/PUP list

No Practice

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
Jalen Reeves-Maybin Non-Injury related No Practice No Practice

Reeves-Maybin continues to miss practices this week with an undisclosed, non-COVID-19 situation. If he returns to practice on Friday, he will likely be available on Sunday.

Limited Practice

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
Adrian Peterson Abdomen Not Listed Limited Practice
Taylor Decker Shoulder  Not Listed Limited Practice
Desmond Trufant Hamstring No Practice Limited Practice
Darryl Roberts Groin/Hip  Not Listed Limited Practice

Trufant practiced for the first time since he re-injured his hamstring in Week 4. A limited practice on Thursday gives him a real chance to play on Sunday, as long as he doesn’t suffer a setback. If he does return, expect him to be on a snap count and the corners group to see a rotation of players.

Peterson, Decker, and Roberts were not listed on the injury report on Wednesday, which is not unusual for a walk-through, but limited practices for a player who was not previously injured leaves a bit of ambiguity surrounding their status.

Were they injured in last weekend’s game and this is just the team managing/monitoring their situation? Or did they suffer an injury in today’s practice and that is what limited them?

Last week the Lions gave several veterans who were managing minor injuries rest on Wednesday and Thursday, then ramped them back up on Friday and they were all available on Sunday. Let’s hope this is just that situation repeating itself.

Full Practice

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
NONE Full Practice

No players qualify for this section at this time.

Colts Report

Detroit Lions Week 4 inactives: Desmond Trufant, Darryl Roberts, Christian Jones ACTIVE

The Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints have declared their Game Day inactives for their Week 4 matchup.

The Detroit Lions have declared their Game Day inactives for their Week 4 matchup with the New Orleans Saints.

The Lions elected to not elevate any players from their practice squad this week, meaning they enter today’s game with 53-players on their roster and because they have kept eight offensive linemen on their active game-day roster, they are now eligible to expand their roster from 46- to 48-players — meaning they only need to declare five players inactive.

Here are those five players.

Lions’ inactives list

  • C.J. Moore, Groin — Previously ruled OUT
  • TE Hunter Bryant, Hamstring
  • OG Logan Stenberg
  • LB Elijah Lee
  • CB Chris Jones

Moore and Lee will be a loss to the Lions special teams, but with Jayron Kearse back on the field, it’s not overly significant. Rookies Bryant and Stenberg get another week to sit back and learn, while Jones isn’t needed with the cornerback group gaining Desmond Trufant this week.

Saints inactive list

  • WR Michael Thomas, Ankle
  • TE Jared Cook, Groin
  • LG Andrus Peat, Ankle
  • EDGE Marcus Davenport, Elbow/Toe
  • CB Marcus Lattimore, Hamstring
  • CB Janoris Jenkins, Shoulder
  • DT Shy Tuttle

The Saints had all but one of their inactives determined on Friday when they declared six of their starters OUT for the game.

Detroit Lions Week 4 injury designations: Christian Jones added on Friday, listed as Questionable

The Detroit Lions have declared their injury designations ahead of their Week 4 matchup with the New Orleans Saints.

The Detroit Lions have declared their injury designations ahead of their Week 4 matchup with the New Orleans Saints and linebacker Christian Jones was added to the list on Friday. He and four others are listed as Questionable, while C.J. Moore is OUT, as expected.

Here’s a look at the Lions’ injury report, with the updated changes in injury status listed in bold.

Injured reserve/PUP list

When asked for an update on the status of Scarbrough and Ford and their potential to return from IR, coach Matt Patricia said: “Eligible – day-by-day at this point. I think we’re getting closer, certainly with the bye week coming up, (we’re) trying to do the best we can to gauge when to get them out there and maximize everything that we can do based on if they’re ready to go.”

OUT

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
C.J. Moore Groin No Practice No Practice No Practice OUT

Moore was once again unable to practice this week and was ruled out as expected.

Questionable

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
Hunter Bryant Hamstring Limited Practice Limited Practice Limited Practice Questionable
Da’Shawn Hand Chest Limited Practice Limited Practice Limited Practice Questionable
Christian Jones Knee Not Listed Not Listed No Practice Questionable
Desmond Trufant Hamstring Limited Practice Limited Practice Limited Practice Questionable
Darryl Roberts Hip Not listed Limited Practice Limited Practice Questionable

Jones was unable to practice today with a knee injury, but fortunately, he was not ruled out at this time. Expect the Lions to give him another examination on Saturday, and if he clears that hurdle, he will be tested once again ahead of Sunday’s game. If he can’t go, either Jarrad Davis or Reggie Ragland will replace him in the lineup.

Trufant looks good to go. When asked about the status of his hamstring injury on Friday, Trufant said “I’m solid, bro. I’m good.” He is expected to resume his starting cornerback role on Sunday.

Roberts was added to the injury report on Thursday, and while most mid-week additions are problematic, the Free Press’ Dave Birkett is reporting that “looked fine at Lions practice today”. Roberts has been the Lions third/slot corner, but with Trufant likely joining Amani Oruwariye and Jeff Okudah, Roberts figures to slide back to the fourth cornerback role.

Hand got in a full week of limited practices, and while it’s mildly concerning that he was never upgraded to a full practice, he appears on track to play.

Bryant is the healthiest he has been since the first week of training camp, but with the Lions fielding a very healthy roster, he may still end up being a game-day inactive — which would give him two more weeks to rest up, with a bye scheduled for Week 5. If he does play, he is exactly the type of tight end that has given the Saints problems all year.

Not listed with an injury designation

Player Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
Full Practice

There are no players listed in this section at this time.

Lions elevate Kevin Strong and Dee Virgin to the active roster for Week 2

The Detroit Lions announced they have elevated defensive tackle Kevin Strong and cornerback Dee Virgin to the active roster for Week 2.

The Detroit Lions are once again taking advantage of the new practice squad rules for 2020 and have elevated defensive tackle Kevin Strong and corner/gunner Dee Virgin from the practice squad to the active roster for their Week 2 game against the Green Bay Packers.

The new rule allows the team to elevated up to two players from the practice squad each week, expanding the team’s active roster from 53- to 55-players on game day. At midnight the day of the Lions game, the players will revert back to the Lions practice squad — as long as the player has not been elevated two other times this season, they will not have to go through the waivers process.

With Nick Williams being downgraded to out for this week’s matchup, the Lions need depth on the defensive line and Strong has experience in this scheme after making the 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent in 2019.

Virgin being promoted gives the Lions depth at the corner position as well as a starting gunner. Last week, Darryl Roberts was starting at gunner opposite Tony McRae, but he is nursing a calf injury — is listed as questionable for this game — and potentially taking over the starting slot corner role. So it would make sense for the Lions to shift Roberts’ gunner responsibilities over to Virgin, who held that role the previous two seasons.

Detroit Lions Week 2 injury designations: Kenny Golladay, Desmond Trufant, Joe Dahl ruled OUT

The Detroit Lions have declared their injury designations ahead of their  Week 2 matchup with the Packers in Green Bay.

The Detroit Lions have declared their injury designations ahead of their  Week 2 matchup with the Packers in Green Bay and they will be without three starters with another two listed as questionable.

Here’s a look at the Lions’ injury report, with the changes from yesterday listed in bold.

Injured reserve

Ruled OUT

Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
WR Kenny Golladay Hamstring No Practice No Practice No Practice OUT
TE Hunter Bryant Hamstring No Practice No Practice Limited practice OUT
LG Joe Dahl Groin Not Listed Limited Practice No Practice OUT
CB Desmond Trufant Hamstring No Practice No Practice No Practice OUT

Golladay has not practiced in two weeks now and his absence will likely open the door for rookie Quintez Cephus to get his second straight start opposite Marvin Jones Jr. and Danny Amendola.

Trufant’s injury was reported to not be serious but it was still significant enough to keep him from practicing all week. He will likely be replaced by rookie Jeff Okudah in the starting lineup.

Dahl was injured in Thursday’s practice and like most mid-week injuries, he was not able to recover in time for the weekend’s game. He will likely be replaced by Oday Aboushi in the starting lineup at left guard.

Bryant was able to get in a limited practice on Friday but he is still not ready to go.

Questionable

Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
RT Hal Vaitai Foot No Practice No Practice No Practice Questionable
DT Nick Williams Shoulder Limited Practice Limited Practice Limited Practice Questionable
CB Darryl Roberts Calf No Practice Limited Practice Limited Practice Questionable
S C.J. Moore Hamstring Limited Practice Limited Practice Limited Practice Questionable

Despite not being able to practice all week Vaitai has yet to be ruled out. Because this is a travel week, expect him to be tested by the team before they travel tomorrow and he will either make the trip to Green Bay where he will give it a shot or be downgraded to out. If he is not able to play, expect to see Tyrell Crosby at right tackle again.

Williams has been injured all week but able to get some practice time in. His status may come down to a Sunday decision.

Roberts was upgraded from no practice on Tuesday to limited the following days. If he is able to go on Sunday, he will likely be the Lions starting slot receiver.

Moore didn’t practice at all in Week 1 and was unable to play. This week he got in all limited practices so it’s possible he returns and gives the Lions’ special teams a boost.

No injury designation

Wednesday Thursday Friday Designation
CB Jeff Okudah Hamstring Full Practice Full Practice Full Practice None
FB Jason Cabinda Ankle Limited Practice Limited Practice Full Practice None

Okudah has now completed a full week of practice and is expected to start opposite Amani Oruwariye. His recovery comes just in time for a heavily injured Lions secondary.

Cabinda upgraded to a full practice on Friday and does not carry an injury designation. Expect him to be available on Sunday, clearing holes for Adrian Peterson through a Kenny Clark-less Packer defensive line.

Detroit Lions Week 2 Thursday injury report:

The Detroit Lions announced their Week 2 Thursday injury report and first-round pick Jeff Okudah’s health is trending in the right direction.

On Thursday, the Detroit Lions held their second practice of the week as they prepare to take on the Green Bay Packers in Week 2 of the 2020 season.

The Lions saw some health improvement from corner Darryl Roberts, while left guard Joe Dahl showed up as limited after not being listed on yesterday’s report.

Here’s a look at the Lions’ Thursday injury report, with the changes from yesterday listed in bold.

Injured reserve

No practice on Thursday

Wednesday Thursday
WR Kenny Golladay Hamstring No Practice No Practice
TE Hunter Bryant Hamstring No Practice No Practice
RT Hal Vaitai Foot No Practice No Practice
CB Desmond Trufant Hamstring No Practice No Practice

Two practices in and it’s not looking good for any of these four players. Lions fans can still hold out hope for Trufant after the Tom Pelissero report from earlier in the week, suggesting Trufant avoided serious injury and could possibly play this weekend.

Limited participants

Wednesday Thursday
FB Jason Cabinda Ankle Limited Practice Limited Practice
LG Joe Dahl Groin Not Listed Limited Practice
DT Nick Williams Shoulder Limited Practice Limited Practice
CB Darryl Roberts Calf No Practice Limited Practice
S C.J. Moore Hamstring Limited Practice Limited Practice

A bit of good and bad in this section, as Roberts’ being upgraded to limited is a huge boost for the secondary, while Dahl being added to this list is mildly concerning. A mid-week injury is typically bad news — it cost Jeff Okudah last week’s game — so keeping an eye on Friday’s report is a must for Dahl. If he can’t go, Oday Aboushi would be the next man up at left guard.

Full Participants

Wednesday Thursday
CB Jeff Okudah Hamstring Full Practice Full Practice

Two straight days of being a full participant is great news for the rookie. If Trufant can’t play, expect Okudah to start opposite Amani Oruwariye, and hopefully, Roberts will be ready to take over in the slot.

Lions Week 2 Wednesday injury report: Jeff Okudah returns to practice in full

The Detroit Lions announced their Week 2 Wednesday injury report and Kenny Golladay, Hal Vaitai, and Desmond Trufant missed practice.

On Wednesday, the Detroit Lions held first practice of Week 2, as they prepare to travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers.

The Lions still have several players listed on the injury report this week, with the majority of them coming at the cornerback position, including Justin Coleman, Desmond Trufant, Daryl Roberts, and Jeff Okudah all at different stages of their recovery process.

Injured reserve

  • CB Justin Coleman

Coleman was placed in IR on Tuesday, and the Lions signed corner Chris Jones — who was with the team during the 2018 training camp — off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad, and he filled the open spot on the active roster.

No practice on Wednesday

  • WR Kenny Golladay, hamstring
  • TE Hunter Bryant, hamstring
  • RT Hal Vaitai, foot
  • CB Desmond Trufant, hamstring
  • CB Darryl Roberts, calf

Golladay, Bryant, and Vaitai all missed last week so starting off the week in this group is not a great sign, but the fact that they were not placed on injured reserve to start the year is a good sign they may be further along than this practice indicates.

Despite not practicing today, Trufant’s injury isn’t expected to be longterm and it’s possible he could even be ready for this weekend’s game. Expect the Lions to take it very slowly with him this week in hopes of getting him ready.

Roberts’ injury was downplayed by coach Matt Patricia in his morning press conference, but this is another soft tissue injury here, so expect them not to push him.

Limited participants

  • FB Jason Cabinda, ankle
  • DT Nick Williams, shoulder
  • S C.J. Moore, hamstring

Cabinda and Williams are new additions to the report this week and their participation levels will have to be monitored to determine their availability. The fact that they could put in limited practice with soft tissue injuries is encouraging.

Moore was previously injured and unable to play last week, so a step up here could be a positive sign towards his return.

Full Participants

  • CB Jeff Okudah, hamstring

Okudah returning to full practice is very good news, considering the injures at the position. If Okudah’s health stays on track and he is able to play, the Lions should have two corners they can comfortably start — Amani Oruwariye being the other — and another two — in Trufant and Roberts — that they hope can recover in time to round out the group.

Danny Amendola, Trey Flowers top Lions in PFF grades from Week 1

Breaking down the PFF grades for the Lions from Week 1

The analysts at Pro Football Focus revealed their grades for all the players in the Detroit Lions’ Week 1 loss to the Chicago Bears. Grading every player’s performance on every snap, PFF focuses more on individual performance than team outcome on the plays.

On offense, wide receiver Danny Amendola earned the top grade with an 82.9 score. He made the most of his 43 snaps, earning a high grade on run blocking while also catching five passes on seven targets.

The full top five on offense:

  • Amendola
  • Frank Ragnow 80.0
  • Jason Cabinda 70.6
  • Taylor Decker 67.2
  • Matthew Stafford 66.9

Defensively the top Lion performer was Trey Flowers. The defensive end’s performance passed the eye test, too,

Flowers earned an overall grade of 82.1 with his four tackles, one sack, forced fumble and four overall QB pressures on 46 snaps.

The top Lions defenders:

  • Flowers
  • Darryl Roberts 78.9
  • Da’Shawn Hand 77.9
  • Justin Coleman 75.0
  • Duron Harmon 70.1

Roberts allowed just one completion on five targets. It just happens to be the one completion everyone will remember.

On the other end of the spectrum, the lowest-graded Lions who played at least 10 snaps:

  • CB Tony McRae
  • LB Jahlani Tavai
  • S Will Harris
  • LB Jamie Collins
  • CB Desmond Trufant

On offense, the two lowest-graded players were RBs D’Andre Swift and Kerryon Johnson. Both their scores were higher than several defenders, however.