Detroit Lions Craig Reynolds Returns, Montgomery, Jackson Miss Practice

The Detroit Lions returned to practice on Thursday to continue preparing for their game against the Baltimore Ravens. Those not spotted during the media

practice game included David Montgomery and Jonah Jackson. Running back Craig Reynolds is active after being listed as out of Detroit’s walkthrough on Wednesday

While Detroit may be thin at the running back position, the coaching staff is confident that any backup is viable if the starter misses a game. Defensive

lineman Josh Paschal, who last started practice but was deemed inactive against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has a chance to return this week to face a Ravens offense that has key weapons.
Paschal played in just one game this season, the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. He recorded a key tackle for loss in the fourth quarter and

received a Pro Football Focus overall defensive rating of 73.5 for his performance. “Very good runner, very good pocket pusher,” Glenn said. “I picked this player to do that, so when he comes back we expect him to do those things.”
Although he has returned to practice and is likely to return to the lineup, the team will likely slowly readjust him, as it has done with several players

returning from injury. “I think we did that with every injured player. Because you also have to get used to the speed of the game,” Glenn explained. “Look, he’s going to play. I can’t tell you how many games he’s going to play, but he’s going to play, so hopefully we’ll keep him on the field.”

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Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (32) is congratulated by linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) after intercepting a pass and running it back for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)AP

ALLEN PARK — Brian Branch has been back at practice for the Detroit Lions this week, and that couldn’t come at a better time with Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens up next.

Branch (ankle) didn’t practice at all while missing the last two games. The team took the safe route by holding their breakout rookie defensive back for those two weeks, minimizing the lingering nature of the ankle injury this early in the long season.

“It was just exciting to see them guys go out there and battle,” Branch said in the locker room on Thursday. “Display their hard work. Except for me, because like you said, I was out on the sideline and not able to help produce.

“Of course. We still got a long season to go. And, shoot, each game is going to be a tough battle. I’m only even hungrier to get back out there and just prove to everybody.”

And that should be music to this fanbase’s ears. Branch was on a torrid pace to open his career, notching

But Branch has been back out there in both windows open to reporters to start the week for the banged-up Lions, looking good to go for this weekend’s trip to Baltimore.

And that tracks, with head coach Dan Campbell saying Branch, rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs and tight end James Mitchell all are trending in the right direction after getting back on the field. Campbell will address reporters ahead of the weekend on Friday morning, so more clarity is expected in that department.

Branch is set to re-join Detroit’s secondary after a string of impressive victories without him. The Lions blew the Carolina Panthers out of the water back at home, then went into Tampa Bay and kept them out of the end zone. And while Branch was itching to be back out there, he did his best to make the experience of watching from the sideline a valuable one as a rookie.

“The one thing that I took, that I wasn’t really used to was I could put the headset on and like hear the coaches call the plays,” Branch said. “I thought that was cool. Shoot, felt like I was real-life Madden.”

It’s a different challenge this weekend, with the Ravens passing the ball more and former MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson remaining his lethal self.

Jackson is on pace for yet another 1,000-yard campaign on the ground. And he’s doing that while hitting a career-high 69.9% of his passes. Baltimore’s offense ranks in the NFL’s top half, averaging 6.2 net passing yards per attempt and 4.3 per carry on the ground.

“They’re a good offense. We going to have to keep and contain Lamar in that pocket,” Branch said. “They got good receivers over there that I’m going to have to guard on the back end. Everybody do their job, we’ll be successful.

“Just let the front do what they do. And we got to just plaster our guys when he gets outside that pocket. It’s going to be tough if he does get out that pocket. But, shoot, the back end, we just got to plaster our guys.”