Lions OTA observations: Bug hits DB room, offense capitalizes on penalties to win situational period
Allen Park — Here are notes and observations from Thursday’s OTA practice, the ninth and final session before next week’s mandatory minicamp.
● Let’s start where we usually do with these observations, checking in on participation. Ahead of practice, coach Dan Campbell noted that an illness had hit the defensive back room.
That bug sidelined cornerbacks Ennis Rakestraw and Rock-Ya Sin. Terrion Arnold was also out, but the team had already been managing his workload through the early stages of the offseason program.
Also not practicing were backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, guard Ben Bartch, tight end Tyler Conklin and safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph.
With Bartch, he has yet to practice in any of the three sessions open to the media. I asked Campbell if the absence was related to the season-ending foot injury Bartch suffered last season.
“Yes, he is much more precautionary than what those other two (Joseph and Branch) are,” Campbell said. “We anticipate him being ready for training camp, he’s doing well.”
Conklin, meanwhile, exited Wednesday’s practice with an injury, and given Campbell didn’t offer an unprompted update on the veteran tight end, it’s believed to be a minor issue.
● Branch was in attendance, in street clothes, for the first time this offseason. He wasn’t wearing a sleeve or brace over the repaired Achilles and was walking without a limp.