Detroit, MI
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.”
Limited players
While the Lions are not required to offer an injury report during training camp, three notable players remain limited in their participation: running back Jahmyr Gibbs, defensive end Marcus Davenport, and defensive back Brian Branch. Gibbs has been limited to walkthroughs and individual drills, while Branch and Davenport have been mostly doing walkthroughs.
Gibbs sat for the spring while dealing with what Campbell called a “soft tissue” injury, while Branch had an offseason clean-up procedure and Davenport continues to work his way back from a high-ankle sprain that also required surgery.
Campbell noted Thursday how important it was that both Branch and Davenport were able to avoid the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
“We knew that they were not going to be 100%, walk in, day one, doing full practice. But to be able to keep them off of PUP, NFI, any of that so that they can do the walkthroughs, maybe a little bit individual, I think that goes a long way,” Campbell said. “It’s good to have them out there. They’re both doing well.”
Brief scare
While the Lions were working on special teams, Terrion Arnold required some medical treatment on his lower body. But after a few minutes with a trainer, he was back out there during the next set of team drills.
Detroit, MI
New Coach, Same Outcome for Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings announced the inevitable with the firing of head coach Derek Lalonde. The team showed life at the start of his tenure and even improved to 41 wins last season. But this year was a noticeable plateau under Lalonde, and Detroit made the only call they could.
In Lalonde’s place, the Red Wings hired Todd McLellan. The former San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers, and Los Angeles Kings coach has over 15 years of NHL head coaching experience, and Detroit is hoping he can bring the team back to the postseason. It’s a gamble worth taking for the Red Wings organization, but the outcome won’t change as long as the roster construction remains the same.
McLellan is a good coach. He’s certainly an improvement over Lalonde, bringing more career wins and nine playoff appearances across three organizations, but he’s a band-aid. The wound in the Red Wings organization runs much deeper than who is behind the bench, and McLellan will be the next bench boss to fall victim to the lack of talent in Detroit
The Red Wings haven’t made the postseason since the 2015-2016 campaign. Long gone is the 30 year stretch where they were basically a perennial playoff team, capturing four Stanley Cups since 1996. The organization has been attempting to rebuild that dynasty for the last decade, with repeated failures along the way.
The current attempt to build the right core is another one of those missteps. They have good players. Captain Dylan Larkin will be a member of the United States roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off and is a talented point producer. Lucas Raymond continues to improve and become the team’s best offensive player. Alex DeBrincat has speed and scoring capabilities. Top defensemen Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson give them quality minutes every night.
Beyond them, though, the roster is so far from a playoff one, let alone a championship one. They lack depth across every position and they’ve consistently failed with their analysis of goaltenders. For several seasons now, the organization has been banking on their overflow of young prospects breaking through to the NHL, but it’s still a waiting game.
That won’t help McLellan take this middling team to the postseason. He has some weapons to work with and his arrival is sure to reinvigorate the Red Wings players. It ultimately won’t matter though. It won’t change the outcome this year or next year or even the year after until their NHL lineup improves drastically.
Make sure you bookmark Breakaway On SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!
Detroit, MI
Toledo vs Pitt bowl game in Detroit today: GameAbove Time, TV, channel, streaming info
How CFP fans (probably) reacted to the first round games
After the CFP first round, Before The Snap shares a sketch take on who made it to the quarterfinals.
College football’s annual bowl game visit to Detroit has a new name. This year, the Pittsburgh Panthers (7-5) meet the Toledo Rockets (7-5) in the 2024 GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field, home to the Detroit Lions.
The Panthers lost five in a row in the ACC to close the regular season after beginning 7-0.
The Rockets were a MAC contender before losing their final two games of the regular season.
The GameAbove Bowl takes the name from what used to be the Quick Lane Bowl, won last year by Minnesota, 30-24, over Bowling Green.
Here’s the game info on Pitt vs. Toledo in the bowl game in Detroit:
Pittsburgh vs Toledo GameAbove Sports Bowl TV channel, start time
- TV channel: ESPN.
- Date: Thursday, Dec 26.
- Start time: 2 p.m. ET.
- Where: Ford Field, Detroit.
- Streaming: ESPN+ or Fubo (free trial).
What are the bowl games today?
There are three bowl games today, Thursday, Dec. 26.
- Pitt vs Toledo (GameAbove Sports Bowl): 2 p.m., ESPN
- Rutgers vs Kansas State (Rate Sports Bowl): 5:30 p.m., ESPN
- Arkansas State vs Bowling Green (68 Ventures Bowl): 9 p.m., ESPN
Watch today’s bowl games on Fubo (free trial)
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Detroit, MI
Next Weather Forecast 12-25-24
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
-
Technology5 days ago
Google’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps
-
News6 days ago
Novo Nordisk shares tumble as weight-loss drug trial data disappoints
-
Politics6 days ago
Illegal immigrant sexually abused child in the U.S. after being removed from the country five times
-
Entertainment7 days ago
'It's a little holiday gift': Inside the Weeknd's free Santa Monica show for his biggest fans
-
Lifestyle7 days ago
Think you can't dance? Get up and try these tips in our comic. We dare you!
-
Technology1 week ago
Fox News AI Newsletter: OpenAI responds to Elon Musk's lawsuit
-
Technology2 days ago
There’s a reason Metaphor: ReFantanzio’s battle music sounds as cool as it does
-
News3 days ago
France’s new premier selects Eric Lombard as finance minister