Daily DLP: Lions OTA Injury Updates and Notes – Detroit Lions Podcast

Kirby Joseph uncertainty shifts the safety plan, again

Dan Campbell’s update on Kirby Joseph landed with weight. The Detroit Lions head coach said the team will not know much until the thick of training camp. That means Joseph’s knee remains a real question. The NFL calendar does not slow down for that. Detroit Lions depth at safety now matters more.

The room is crowded by design. Chuck Clark, Avonte Maddox and Christian Isian headline the newcomers and risers. Thomas Harper, Dan Jackson and Lawrence Strickland are in the mix. Campbell said it will take Brian Branch a minute. The realistic return window is Halloween at the earliest, with Thanksgiving more likely. That delays the club’s best 2024 safety tandem reunion. The Detroit Lions Podcast laid out the contingency: compete hard now and buy time for healthier months.

Kendrick Law lost for the season; Lions add Kyrie Duplessis

Rookie wide receiver Kendrick Law tore his ACL in a non-contact drill and will miss 2026. It is a tough break for a player battling for a back-end job. He was competing with Dominic Lovett and Tom Kennedy. Special teams value was a path. That door shuts for this year.

Detroit signed Kyrie Duplessis to fill the spot. He spent four years at Coastal Carolina with limited targets, then caught 60 passes last year at Delaware. He is 5-11 and 182 pounds with outside snaps on his reel. Timed at 4.64 in the 40, he profiles as depth and a special teams audition. He is not projected to threaten Kennedy or Lovett quickly, but he gives the staff a look while camp reps ramp up.

OTA snapshots: cautious tempo, key sightings

Open OTAs were light on true football. Three-quarter speed. Little contact. Still, there were useful notes. Sam LaPorta worked and got his reps. Terrion Arnold was spotted, did work, then left early for treatment. DJ Reader moved well, an encouraging sign given last year’s injury. Presence matters even in walkthroughs.

Rookie Keith O’Neil drew a first look in No. 28. He appears a bit leaner than last summer. The traits are there. The technique is still developing. The target for 2026 is simple. Make the roster on merit and push to be active on Sundays. Anything beyond that would be a bonus.

Rams swing at Miles Garrett; Lions stay steady

Campbell’s reaction to the Rams landing Miles Garrett was calm. He called Garrett a great player and moved on. Detroit does not see Los Angeles on the regular-season slate. Drew Petzing praised Garrett’s complete game and welcomed a playoff shot if it comes to that. Scheme-wise, expect creativity in the red zone without locking into three-tight-end football. The NFL never stops moving. The Detroit Lions are choosing steadiness while they wait for health to catch up.

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Chris
Chris is the founder of everything you see here. A former radio presenter and Detroit native, he now resides in sunny California – and like so many of us, he found himself marooned on an island devoid of other Lions fans. After spending a few years in the Detroit Lions Reddit community he decided to start the Detroit Lions Podcast. Its become the #1 Detroit Lions podcast, and regularly ranks with the top podcasts in Detroit. With a mixture of pre-recorded shows, live & recorded phone-ins, and live post-game broadcasts - this is his slice of Honolulu Blue heaven.