Allen Park — The Detroit Lions have opened Alim McNeill’s practice window.
It’s the first step in getting back McNeill, who suffered a knee injury in a game against the Buffalo Bills last December. At the end of the 21-day window (or before, if McNeill is ready to go earlier), the Lions must either activate McNeill off of the Physical Unable to Perform (PUP) list, or place him on a season-ending injured list. The opening of his practice window signals McNeill could be ready to play soon.
“We’re starting Mac’s clock today. I think he’s a little nervous,” head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday, jokingly. “He’s ready to go. I’m sorry for some of those guys that are going to have to line up across from him. He’s ready to go. He’s ready to start practicing.”
McNeill, one of the NFL’s best defensive tackles, does not currently count against Detroit’s 53-man active roster, and he won’t until the Lions activate him from PUP. McNeill returning to the lineup would add some extra juice to a defense that already has 14 sacks, tied for the second most in the league through four games.
Prior to getting injured, McNeill in October signed an extension that made him one of the highest-paid defensive tackles in the NFL. McNeill had 45 pressures and 3½ sacks last season, proving to be a key pass-rush piece from the interior.
Reed goes on IR
The good vibes connected to McNeill were dampened some by news regarding cornerback D.J. Reed (hamstring), who was placed on injured reserve. Reed will, at minimum, miss Detroit’s next four games. That means he’ll be unavailable in Week 5 (Cincinnati Bengals), Week 6 (Kansas City Chiefs), Week 7 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Week 9 (Minnesota Vikings).
Detroit’s Week 8 bye does not count toward Reed’s absences. It’s four games, not four weeks.
Reed injured his hamstring in Sunday’s win over the Cleveland Browns. He was covering wide receiver Jerry Jeudy on a deep pattern when he abruptly grabbed the back of his left leg. The severity was evident, as Reed’s teammates took a knee and the cart came out.
The positive is Reed’s injury isn’t season ending, Campbell said Monday.
Practice attendance
Players on the active roster who missed Wednesday’s practice were linebacker Zach Cunningham (hamstring), offensive tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder), cornerback Khalil Dorsey (concussion), safety Kerby Joseph (knee), cornerback D.J. Reed (hamstring) and running back Sione Vaki (groin).
Decker and Joseph have appeared in every game this season while battling injuries, so their absences aren’t particularly surprising. Dorsey was the only player unexpectedly not seen.
Notably present was cornerback Terrion Arnold, who suffered a shoulder injury in Sunday’s win over the Browns. Campbell said Monday that Arnold’s injury wasn’t serious, but his availability for Week 5’s game against the Bengals was in question. His participation Wednesday, despite being limited, is a positive sign.
Other injury updates
▶ DL Josh Paschal: There is no significant update on Paschal, who started training camp on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list and has yet to practice this season. Asked Wednesday if there’s a clearer timeline for the fourth-year pro, Campbell said, “He’s improving, but he’s not ready yet.”
Lions shuffle practice squad
The Lions have had some movement on their practice squad, adding cornerbacks Tre Flowers and Nick Whiteside. Safety Loren Strickland was promoted to the active roster, and wide receiver Ronnie Bell was released to make two spots available.
Detroit also added linebacker Ty Summers to the active roster. He took Reed’s spot.
Summers and Whiteside have been with the Lions before, with the former on the team toward the end of training camp in 2024 and the latter in Detroit during training camp earlier this year. Summers appeared in two preseason games with the Lions last season, totaling 10 tackles and a sack. He was released as part of roster cuts and went on to sign with the New York Giants, with whom he appeared in 16 games. Most of his 383 snaps came on special teams, but he also saw 113 defensive reps.
Flowers, a fifth-round pick in 2018, is in his eighth NFL season. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks (2018-21) and has made stops with the Bengals (2021-22), Atlanta Falcons (2023), Jacksonville Jaguars (2024), Indianapolis Colts (2024) and Chicago Bears (2024).
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
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