| Detroit Free Press
Debating the Darrell Bevell narrative and the Detroit Lions’ future
Good-natured debate on the Darrell Bevell narrative after the Lions’ comeback over Bears, Matt Patricia’s culture and what’s next, Dec. 8, 2020.
D’Andre Swift made a positive step in his return from the brain injury and subsequent headaches that have kept him out of action the last three weeks as he was cleared to practice Wednesday.
Interim Detroit Lions coach Darrell Bevell said Swift will take part in Wednesday’s practice, though the team will work him back slowly to avoid soft tissue injuries.
“He’s continued to improve each and every day, so we’re excited to see him out there at practice today,” Bevell said before practice. “And then like I told you, we’re trying to monitor how that goes and then see the next day. But so far, so good, and we expect him to be out there.”
Swift has not played since a Nov. 15 win over Washington, when he had 149 yards from scrimmage.
He reported concussion symptoms days later after practice, then sat out losses to the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans while in concussion protocol.
Swift cleared protocol last week but was listed on the practice report with a non-COVID-19-related illness and did not play in Sunday’s win over the Chicago Bears because of recurring headaches.
[This behind-the-scenes Detroit Lions executive will help with GM search ]
His status for this weekend’s game against the Green Bay Packers is uncertain.
“(We’re) still just trying to ramp him up from what he was going through more than (holding him back because of) rustiness,” Bevell said. “But we’re still taking that into consideration. It’s important for us to kind of get him up to speed. When you take that much time off and you’re not out there running around full speed, don’t want to give him the full go and then you have a soft tissue injury or anything. So kind of want to work him back in as well.”
While Swift will be back on the practice field Wednesday, Bevell said Kenny Golladay (hip), Jeff Okudah (shoulder), Tyrell Crosby (ankle) and C.J. Moore (ankle) will not practice.
Golladay has missed seven games this season because of injuries, including five straight with a hip injury he suffered in the first half of a Nov. 1 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.