Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell provided optimistic injury updates on Jahmyr Gibbs, Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw, Carlton Davis, and Hendon Hooker this morning. Here’s the latest on what we know:
The Detroit Lions have been dealing with the injury bug of late and they’ve had to make some alterations to their preseason/training camp to adjust. Coach Dan Campbell joined 97.1 The Ticket on Wednesday morning, and fortunately, there’s a lot of optimism that the injuries to their star players—Jahmyr Gibbs, Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw, Carlton Davis, and Hendon Hooker—are not long-term.
“I think we’re gonna be fine here. So, I think we’ll be good,” Campbell said.
Here are the latest updates on the Lions players who have suffered recent injuries.
Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring)
Gibbs exited Monday’s practice and it was later reported that he suffered a hamstring injury but there were no initial reports about the length of the injury. Gibbs was included in Campbell’s overall positive statement regarding injuries, but he did not directly talk about Gibbs. That being said, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport did report that Gibbs’ injury was not considered significant and he was expected to be ready for the regular season .
Terrion Arnold (pec)
Arnold was also injured during Monday night’s practice and Campbell noted that Arnold “was having a good camp before this injury.” Like Gibbs, Rapoport reported that the rookie was expected to be ready for the season .
Ennis Rakestraw (ankle)
Campbell equally praised Rakestraw—who was also injured on Monday—noting that, “Ennis was having a good camp.” The rookie himself went on social media to say that he was “perfectly fine.”
Carlton Davis (hamstring)
Davis did not appear to injure himself at Sunday’s practice but was noticeably absent on Monday. Campbell was more direct in discussing Davis’ status, offering the same level of optimism: “Carlton is good, he’s just dealing with this hammy, but he’ll be fine.”
Hendon Hooker (concussion)
Hooker suffered a concussion in the Giants game and his status for this week’s preseason game was in question. Hooker was able to return to the practice field on Wednesday and the pre-practice update from Campbell was equally positive.
“Yeah, I think there’s a good chance,” Campbell said on Hooker’s chances of playing versus the Kansas City Chiefs . “I can’t say absolutely yes, but I think it’s trending the right way.”
Adjustments to practice and game participation
With injuries to several key players, the Lions ended up canceling their planned scrimmage on Wednesday and may have to turn to a few starters to play snaps in Saturday’s preseason game—something the Lions typically try to avoid.
“This would be a true scrimmage day for us, that was the whole plan,” Campbell said on adjusting practice. “But we got the injury bug a bit on the back end of the roster—with our two’s and three’s. And with that, some of these guys were gonna have to play 70 plays in this (scrimmage). So, we’re gonna have to back down.”
Some of the adjustments will also carry over into this weekend’s preseason game.
“There could be a couple of guys,” Campbell said of starters needing to play snaps in Kansas City. “But (a couple) at most, tentatively, right now. We may get a couple of D-linemen going here, against the Chiefs, that didn’t play last week. Our offense is probably pretty set. So, the long and short of it: Maybe a couple of guys but that’s about it.”