The Lions started the practice clock on a pair of players today. According to Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network, defensive end Josh Paschal returned to practice today. Meanwhile, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports that lineman Miles Frazier was also designated to return today.
Paschal has been sidelined all season while tending to a back injury that required surgery. A former second-round pick, the defensive end is coming off a 2024 campaign where he got into a career-high 549 defensive snaps. He finished last season with two sacks and eight QB hits.
He’ll likely settle into a rotational role when he’s ready to return to the field. Al-Quadin Muhammad has performed well playing opposite Aidan Hutchinson this season, meaning Paschal will have to compete with Tyler Lacy (and eventually Marcus Davenport) for any leftover reps.
Frazier is working his way back from a knee injury that landed him on PUP before the season started. The Lions moved up in this past year’s draft to select the LSU product in the third round, and they clearly have high hopes for the rookie. However, coach Dan Campbell cautioned that the Lions will slow-play Frazier’s practice window.
“No training camp, no nothing, so this will be a little bit of a baby fawn at the beginning and then he’ll quickly grow,” Campbell said today (via Tim Twentyman of the team’s website). “It’s a little bit like (Christian) Mahogany (last year). It took a while but once we got him, he just quickly grew with practice reps.”
Of course, the Lions could use Frazier’s versatility sooner than later. Mahogany is sidelined for at least the next month thanks to a broken bone in his leg, while tackles Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell both missed practice today as they nursed injuries. Per Twentyman, the Lions used their rookie lineman at both guard spots and right tackle during today’s practice, and Frazier’s ability to play multiple positions should help him see the field sooner than later.