Update: Lions getting healthy in a hurry; only DJ Reader remains on injured list

Allen Park – Coming off the practice field after the team's first training camp practice Wednesday morning, I wanted to provide a quick, and largely positive injury update as we get rolling.

Earlier this week, the team placed three potential starters on the physically unable to perform list, keeping defensive tackle DJ Reader, edge rusher Marcus Davenport and defensive back Brian Branch on the sideline. Asked about the trio ahead of the morning practice, coach Dan Campbell quelled concerns regarding long-term issues or rehab setbacks.  

"We feel like everybody’s really doing well," Campbell said. "(They're) on schedule for where we pictured them to be. To your point, we talked about Reader. Reader’s on course, man. We’re not in any hurry with him, but he’s doing well, he’s getting his strength back. The injury has healed, it’s just a matter of getting him to that point where now we feel comfortable getting him out there competing around others. 

You’ll see Davenport out there today, you’ll see Branch out there today, in walkthrough," Campbell continued. "These guys are slowly going. I think Davenport is going to be a little quicker than Branch is, but they’ll both be out there in some capacity, which is a good sign. So, no setbacks, we’re moving right along."

Campbell had warned that Reader was likely to start camp on the PUP list back in June. The free-agent addition has been recovering from the second torn quad of his career.

Branch and Davenport were formally activated off PUP minutes after Campbell talked, as was rookie offensive tackle Giovanni Manu, who was placed on the non-football injury list over the weekend. 

In addition to that group, the Lions shifted four veterans to NFI to start camp: Cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Amik Robertson and wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones and Tre'Quan Smith.

Those players were on the sidelines in street clothes. The designation likely indicates each suffered a minor injury while training during the summer or fell short on the required conditioning test.

Update: Davis, Robertson, Peoples-Jones and Smith were all activated in the afternoon, listed on the league’s transaction report as “Passed Physical.”