Lions limping down the stretch with more injuries

Detroit Lions interim head coach Darrell Bevell got his first face-toface meeting with his players on Wednesday only to find out he will be down two more players in his debut on Sunday.

The Lions placed veteran cornerback Desmond Trufant and defensive tackle Danny Shelton on the reserve/injured list on Wednesday. With just five games left in the season, it is possible that the two might not return to action this season.

Trufant and Shelton were among several key free-agent additions for the Lions in the off-season.

A former first-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons, the Lions signed the 30-year-old Trufant to a twoyear deal for US$21 million shortly after the club traded Darius Slay to Philadelphia.

A former Pro Bowl selection, Trufant had already missed five games this season with hamstring problems and was limited in three other games.

The 27-year-old Shelton was a first-round pick of Cleveland in 2015 and had ties to former head coach Matt Patricia — who was fired on Saturday — from their days in New England.

The six-foot-two, 345-pound Shelton, who signed a two-year deal for $8 million with the club in the spring, had started all 11 games this season and played in 61 per cent of the team's defensive snaps with 14 solo tackles, 22 assists, a sack and two fumbles for a loss. He suffered a right-knee injury in Thursday's game against Houston.

To fill their spots on the roster, the Lions activated tight end Hunter Bryant from the reserve/ injured list and promoted defensive tackle Kevin Strong from the practice squad. Cornerback Alex Myers was signed to his spot on the practice squad.

As well, rookie defensive end Julian Okwara and cornerback Darryl Roberts returned to practice on Wednesday, but the two remain on the reserve/injured list. Rookie running back D'andre Swift, who missed the past two games with a concussion, also returned to practice on Wednesday.

“I think he's close,” Bevell said of Swift's chances to return for Sunday's game against Chicago. “It's really hard to say.

The news wasn't so promising for star receiver Kenny Golladay, who remains sidelined with a hip injury suffered Nov. 1. He didn't practice Wednesday, nor did cornerback and first-round pick Jeff Okudah (shoulder), linebacker Christian Jones (knee) or defensive lineman Da'shawn Hand ( groin).

“We're pushing him,” Bevell said of Golladay. “I think he's pushing himself. Like I said, it's a day-in, day-out thing where we monitor it.”