The Detroit Lions got one key-but-hobbled player back at practice Wednesday, but went without two other starters because of injury.
Tight end T.J. Hockenson and offensive tackle Penei Sewell did not practice Wednesday, while Trey Flowers returned on a limited basis.
Flowers, who missed the past two games with knee and ankle injuries, wore a big brace on his right knee and spent part of stretching getting his right ankle taped by a trainer.
The Lions are hoping Flowers can return for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings after losing outside linebacker Romeo Okwara to a season-ending torn Achilles tendon.
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Flowers, who signed a five-year, $90 million free agent contract in 2018, played just two games for the Lions last season because of a broken forearm and has missed 25 of a possible 36 games so far in his Lions career.
Hockenson, who was out with a knee injury, has been the Lions’ best player so far this season. He has a team-leading 215 yards receiving, though he has been limited to six catches the past two weeks after recording eight in each of the Lions’ first two games.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said before practice that Sewell, the team’s first-round pick, was battling an ankle injury and his status for Sunday is in question.
The Lions, who already are without two starters on their line in Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker, could move right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai to tackle and play Logan Stenberg at guard if Sewell can’t play.
Jamaal Williams (hip), D’Andre Swift (groin) and Michael Brockers (shoulder) also were limited in practice.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.