Allen Park — With nine COVID cases in the past nine days, the Detroit Lions are one of seven teams in enhanced protocols, which requires increased (daily) testing for all players and personnel, including those who are vaccinated, mandatory masking indoors for all individuals and an increased emphasis on social distancing.
Fortunately for the Lions, they were already ahead of the curve on many of those requirements due to a flu outbreak that ripped through the roster last week.
After adding two more names to the COVID-reserve list this week, practice squad cornerbacks Corey Ballentine and Nickell Robey-Coleman — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell noted the team had no new positive cases on Wednesday as they prepare to start the week of practice for Sunday’s matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.
In fact, the Lions are actually getting a player off the COVID list on Wednesday, with center Evan Brown returning to practice. He missed last week’s game after testing positive for COVID last Monday.
With Brown out of the lineup, the Lions turned to third-string, undrafted rookie Ryan McCollum in last Sunday’s matchup against the Broncos. He struggled in his debut, allowing a sack of four total quarterback pressures. For comparison, Brown has allowed five pressures in nine games.
Also returning to practice on Wednesday is rookie nickel cornerback AJ Parker, who has spent the past three weeks on injured reserve with a sprained ankle.
Campbell said he anticipates both Brown and Parker to play Sunday against the Cardinals.
The return of Parker might be more imperative than Brown. Detroit’s secondary has been decimated by COVID and Jerry Jacobs’ season-ending ACL injury.
In addition to Ballentine and Robey-Coleman, who were both elevated off the practice squad and played last Sunday against the Broncos, safety Tracy Walker and cornerbacks Ifeatu Melifonwu, Bobby Price and Mark Gilbert remain on the COVID list.
In the first nine games this season, Parker played 366 snaps. While he’s been sidelined, safety Will Harris has been filling the slot corner role.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers