Allen Park — Here are some notes and observations from the Detroit Lions’ Wednesday afternoon, penultimate training camp practice.
● Before practice, Lions coach Dan Campbell noted that he altered the plan, dialing down the intensity a few days ahead of the team’s preseason finale.
“We're going to back down a little bit today, just kind of get a little recovery, and then tomorrow we'll do what we were going to do today,” Campbell said. “They were humming (Tuesday), in a good way. So, just trying to be smart and then we'll pick up where we left off. We'll get them moving out there today.”
Detroit has been a little short-handed throughout camp due to bumps, bruises, sprains and strains, but there has been a notable depletion in the secondary the past week.
In positive news, cornerback Nick Whiteside and safety Dan Jackson were both back at practice after exiting early on Tuesday. Also returning to action were running back Jabari Small — although he didn’t do any full-team work coming back from the concussion he suffered on Saturday — and offensive lineman Miles Frazier.
Frazier had a noticeable wrap and brace on his left leg.
In terms of absences, the Lions were without running back Isiah Pacheco (knee), center Cade Mays (wrist), offensive lineman Michael Niese (leg), linebackers Jimmy Rolder (hamstring) and Trevor Nowaske (knee), safety Thomas Harper (ankle), defensive back Christian Izien, and defensive linemen Payton Turner (back), Derrick Moore and Ahmed Hassanein.
Moore and Hassanein were unexpected absences and neither was mentioned by Campbell during his pre-practice press session.
● The duration of the truncated practice focused on full-team work.
First, the Lions worked drives, starting at the opposition’s 40-yard line.