ALLEN PARK — Alex Anzalone was back at practice for the Detroit Lions after missing the first session of the week.
The veteran linebacker missed Wednesday’s practice with an illness. But Anzalone was back out there on Thursday, doing away with any concerns for this weekend’s trip to face the Rams in Los Angeles.
Detroit’s defense has leaned on its linebackers heavily this season. Jack Campbell leads the team in snaps. Anzalone and Derrick Barnes rank inside the top five.
The only two players missing from Thursday’s practice were safety Kerby Joseph and left tackle Taylor Decker. Joseph practiced on Wednesday, ditching his hefty left knee brace for a leg sleeve, as the Lions try to get the All-Pro reigning interception king back into the fold for the playoff push.
Joseph has missed seven straight games due to a lingering knee injury. Healing the injury sounds out of the question until the offseason, but Joseph and the Lions hope to reach a more manageable point.
Decker has not practiced this week, so far. The veteran left tackle has received his fair share of rest days while working through continued shoulder pain. Decker has even played without practicing at all a couple of times this season. It’s worth noting that the Lions just played three games in less than two weeks, so a little extra rest time after that stretch isn’t shocking.
Giovanni Manu remains on injured reserve with a knee injury. But the second-year offensive tackle was spotted working to the side for the second straight day. And tight end Brock Wright was also working to the side with a trainer nearby. Wright was placed on injured reserve last week with a neck injury.
The Lions have only one tight end on their 53-man roster heading into this weekend’s game in LA in Anthony Firkser. They hope to get tight end Shane Zylstra back after he returned to practice last week.