ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions are expecting to get one of their key pieces back on the defensive line this week. But they were missing veteran defensive tackle DJ Reader on Thursday.
Alim McNeill is set to return from the ACL injury that’s kept him off the field since last December. Reader was listed as a non-participant at Thursday’s practice with a back injury.
The starting defensive tackle was spotted on the side working with trainers in the open practice window. The 31-year-old is coming off a season-high 43 defensive snaps against the Kansas City Chiefs last week. Reader has played an average of 60.4% of the team’s defensive plays this year, so the workload has been high with McNeill out.
The Lions were also missing cornerback Terrion Arnold (shoulder), safety Kerby Joseph (knee), defensive back Avonte Maddox (hamstring), running back Sione Vaki (groin) and safety Brian Branch (suspension).
Arnold has avoided injured reserve since getting his positive second opinion. But the second-year cornerback is not expected back before the bye. Maddox missed last week’s game due to a hamstring injury that popped up in the middle of the week.
Vaki hasn’t played or practiced since the Monday Night Football game in Baltimore a couple of weeks ago. Joseph continues to work through knee issues that have stuck with him since training camp. The All-Pro safety has continued to play through the problem, and the team hopes to get him to the bye. Joseph has said he hates missing out and doesn’t like not playing, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him go through it again on Monday.
Left tackle Taylor Decker was a limited participant as he tries to get back on the field for the first time in two games. Linebacker Zach Cunningham (hamstring) was back at practice for the first time in three weeks. He was a full participant. McNeill was a full participant once again, continuing the trend set last week ahead of his season debut.
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