C.J. Gardner-Johnson and James Houston are now eligible to return to the active roster of the Lions.
Checking in on the Detroit Lions players who are expected to return from their injury lists in Week 7.
The Detroit Lions presently have ten players on injured reserve, and a number of those players will be eligible to be reinstated from their injury designations in the coming weeks. Here’s an updated look at the Lions’ injured players and when they’ll be able to return. Players in bold are currently eligible.
QB Hendon Hooker (ACL): NFI — may return at any time.
Nate Sudfeld (ACL) is out for the season.
RB Zonovan Knight (shoulder) is out for the season.
FB Jason Cabinda (knee) is on injured reserve and could return in Week 9.
TE Shane Zylstra (knee) is out for the season.
OT Matt Nelson (ankle) is on injured reserve and might return in Week 8.
EDGE Josh Paschal (knee): IR – the 21-day assessment clock has begun.
EDGE James Houston (fibula) is on injured reserve and could return in Week 7.
CB Emmanuel Moseley (ACL) is out for the season.
DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson (pectoral) is on injured reserve and might return in Week 7.
As a reminder, NFL teams can only return eight players from injured reserve in a given season, and with Julian Okwara returning to the active roster in Week 5 and CB/KR Khalil Dorsey returning in Week 6, the Lions have only six viable options.
In addition to quarterback Hendon Hooker and defensive lineman Josh Paschal (who has begun practicing), the two new players eligible to return this week are defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson and pass-rushing linebacker James Houston, as seen on the above list.
Gardner-Johnson and Houston are both eligible, but neither is anticipated to return until late in the season.
“The reports that we’ve gotten back on it is that it was a very clean injury and that’s normally good for surgery, recovery, all of those things,” Campbell said of Gardner-Johnson’s injury. “So I certainly think there’s a chance that we get him back.”
Gardner-Johnson has stated on social media that he believes he will be able to return by the Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs, which would be a significant boost for the club but also appears to be a long way off.
Houston is in a similar predicament, since he might return late in the season if he recovers rapidly.
“He may be very similar to (Gardner-Johnson) Ducey,” Campbell speculated. “It could be (the) end of the year, but I don’t want to sit here and say, ‘Yes,’ and then we don’t get him back.” But I believe there’s a chance we’ll have him back by the end of the year.”
For the time being, it appears that Gardner-Johnson and Houston will have to wait a long time. However, keep an eye on Pride of Detroit for updates on all of the players on the injury list during our weekly injury reports.
