Reinforcements to the Detroit Lions defense are on the way. The team has designated EDGE Julian Okwara to return from injured reserve.
Okwara has been on the I.R. since immediately after the 53-man roster cutdowns. He was dealing with an undisclosed arm injury suffered in the final preseason game.
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Being designated to return from I.R. does not immediately make Okwara active. The Lions have up to three weeks to activate Okwara and add him to the active roster. If he doesn’t get activated in that 21-day window, No. 99 will remain on injured reserve and i ineligible to be activated for the rest of the season.
There is a need for Okwara on the depth chart with James Houston being lost to I.R. with a broken ankle and unlikely to return before the late portion of the season. Another EDGE, Josh Paschal, is also on I.R. with a knee injury.