Detroit Lions Open 2015 Training Camp With Some Minor Injuries
By Zac Snyder
The Detroit Lions took the field for the first time in 2015 as training camp got under way today. However, there were a couple surprises in terms of who was not able to participate in today’s opening practice.
Right tackle LaAdrian Waddle (knee), running back Joique Bell (knee/Achilles) and defensive end Jason Jones (knee) were known to be out after the team put them on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list as the team gathered for the start of camp.
The surprise to start camp came with the news that defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and rookie cornerback Alex Carter were unable to practice today because of injuries. Ngata was placed on the non-football injury list shortly before today’s practice because of a hamstring strain he suffered just prior to reporting to camp.
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There isn’t a timetable for when Ngata will be ready to practice, with Jim Caldwell only stating during his media session that the Ngata will be “out for a little bit” but that “he’s a pretty fast healer, so we’ll see what happens.” Not terribly ominous, but not the way the Lions wanted to start camp with the man who is expected to help fill the vacancy left by the departure of Ndamukong Suh via free agency.
As for Carter, he suffered a tweaked ankle while working out last week. Caldwell indicated that Carter is able to put weight on the ankle and that he should be back soon. That’s good news because he’ll have some ground to make up for lost time. Still, Caldwell didn’t sound concerned with Carter’s situation.
"Anytime that you miss reps, it doesn’t help you. He’s a smart guy, he works, he studies and he’s one of those guys that can learn without doing. He’s still going to have some ground to make up when he does come back."
Fortunately, none of the injuries the Lions are dealing with so far appear to be long-term issues. In fact, the injury news is mostly very good because starting middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch was able to avoid the PUP list to start camp. He was out there full-go with his teammates today and reportedly looked very good.
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*Quotes provided by the Detroit Lions