Detroit Lions injury updates: DJ Reader working his way back

The Detroit Lions took the field on Thursday with 87 of 89 players on their roster in attendance and

practicing in some capacity. The two exceptions were rookie guard Christian Mahogany and defensive

tackle DJ Reader. However, the outlook for both players seem promising moving forward.

Mahogany has been dealing with an illness that has held him out of back-to-back training camp

practices.

“Mahogany is dealing with an illness right now so that’s why he’s not out there,” coach Dan Campbell

said. “As he heals up here, we’ll get him out here and get him going but that’s what’s going on there.”

As for Reader, there was a note of progress from Thursday’s practice. He was out there on the field

working with a trainer, running up the hill and doing other sprinting drills with protection around his

right leg. Last year with the Bengals, Reader tore his right quad in December.

Campbell noted that Reader’s injury has healed. It’s now just a matter of trusting the leg and

conditioning.

“We’re not in any hurry with him, but he’s doing well, he’s getting his strength back,” Campbell said.

“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.” jogging up the hill and performing additional sprint

exercises while wearing protection for his right leg. Reader suffered a right quadriplegia in December of

his Bengals season last year.

Reader’s injuries has healed, according to Campbell. Now it is only a matter of conditioning and having

faith in the limb.

Campbell stated, “He is doing well, he is regaining his strength, but we are not in any hurry with him.”

“The injury has healed; now we just need to get him to the point where we feel comfortable putting him

in competition with other people.”

Limited players

Before the Detroit Lions took the field on Thursday, 87 of the 89 players on their roster were present and

engaged in some form of practice. The two exceptions were rookie guard Christian Mahogany and

defensive tackle DJ Reader. However, both players seem to have bright futures.

Mahogany has missed several training camp workouts due to a medical issue.

Head coach Dan Campbell said, “Mahogany is not out there because he is dealing with an illness right

now.” “We will get him out here and get him going as he heals here, but that is what is going on there.”

There was a practice progress report on Thursday regarding Reader. He was in the field working with a

trainer.

Brief scare

Terrion Arnold needed some lower body medical attention as the Lions were practicing on special teams.

However, he returned to the field for the following round of team drills after spending a few minutes

with a trainer.