In a bit of a surprising development, Detroit Lions defensive end Josh Paschal returned to practice on Wednesday. Paschal, who is currently on the Non-Football Injury list with a back problem, hasn’t practiced all season due to the offseason injury. His return to practice begins his 21-day evaluation period, where he can remain on the NFI list until he is ready to return to the 53-man roster.
It’s a surprising move because just last week, coach Dan Campbell suggested he may still be a month out from returning to the field.
“We’re trying to be smart, we’re taking it as far as we can. He’s got a few more things to show us before we’re ready to open the window for him to practice,” Campbell said. “So, I’m hopeful three weeks, somewhere in there. I’m hopeful (by) the end of November, maybe early December. But he is improving.”
With his current timeline, Paschal could be ready to return to games by the end of November.
Paschal was the team’s second-round pick in 2022, and he’s entering the final year of his rookie deal. Through three seasons, he’s played in 36 games, starting 18. And while his stats are a tad underwhelming—62 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 15 QB hits—he’d be a welcome piece of Detroit’s defensive line rotation. Capable of setting the edge in the run game or kicking inside on passing downs, Paschal is a tenacious player with a strong motor. He, also, was recently featured in the team’s official documentary series “Inside the Den,” which followed his journey at the University of Kentucky when he was diagnosed with Melanoma on his foot.
Paschal wasn’t the only one to return to practice on Wednesday. Rookie offensive lineman Miles Frazier also practiced for the first time after suffering a knee injury prior to training camp.
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