The Detroit Lions were back on the practice field on Wednesday for their latest session of training camp, but the team decided to go with a lighter practice after holding a pair of padded practices the two days prior.
Per Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com, the Lions had a "lighter walkthrough-style practice" in order to give the players some semblance of a break while still having them put at least some work in.
"Two days in pads and these guys got after it," head coach Dan Campbell said prior to practice. "It felt like we got a little bit better here and today will be a jog-through. Ramp them back down before we go back up the next two days."
With the lighter practice, there wasn't a ton to glean from it. However, we're still bringing you the biggest takeaways we could find based on observations from reporters on the ground.
Lions training camp takeaways
Injury updates
Unfortunately, the Lions got bad news on two players who were injured during the Tuesday practice, defensive lineman John Cominsky and offensive lineman Netane Muti.
According to Campbell, both players suffered significant injuries that will keep them out long term. We know Cominsky suffered a torn MCL that will keep him out until the playoffs, at least. Muti suffered a shoulder injury that will require surgery, but what the exact injury is remains unknown.
Campbell says they're discussing waiting to put Cominsky on IR until cutdowns so he's eligible to return at some point late this season.
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) July 31, 2024
Campbell added that the team is considering not putting Cominsky on injured reserve in order to leave open the option of bringing him back later this season. Should Cominsky land on IR before final cuts, he'd be out for the season.
Replacements for OL starters
Per Twentyman, four of the starters along the offensive line had the day off, with Penei Sewell being the only one to take the field for the walkthrough.
Sewell slid over to left tackle and Kayode Awosika, Michael Niese, Ike Boettger and Dan Skipper filled in, from left guard to right tackle. That gives us some insight into who the top backups might be.
Dan Campbell heaps praise on Levi Onwuzurike
Campbell had a very notable quote on the former second-round pick, who has seen first-team reps and continues to stand out this offseason.
“He’s earned it,” Campbell said of Onwuzurike seeing increased reps at practice, per Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network. “It’s clear that he’s one of the best. I mean, it’s just clear. And he plays with violence, he’s stout, he’s fundamentally better than he’s ever been, and he’s shown that he has some versatility. Between the big end in base and three-technique, he can play some big end in sub, in nickel, and he’s just earned it. And so, he continues to go, he feels good, and so he’s in a good place.”
Once thought to be on the roster bubble, Onwuzurike is putting himself in position to secure a roster spot and a role off the bench. Ahead of a make-or-break season, the embattled defensive lineman is doing everything he needed to thus far.
