The Detroit Lions made a total of four roster moves on Sunday with the placement of four players on injured lists. However, one of them was a surprise.
According to the Lions’ official website, they have placed defensive back Brian Branch, edge rusher Marcus Davenport and defensive lineman D.J. Reader on the active/physically unable to perform list.
In addition, the team also placed rookie offensive tackle and fourth-round pick Giovanni Manu on the active/non-football injury list.
The additions of Branch, Reader and Davenport to the PUP list come as no surprise, as we know all of them were working their way back from injuries. Branch is dealing with an ankle issue he had surgery for earlier this offseason, Reader is coming back from last year’s torn quadriceps, and Davenport is rehabbing an ankle injury.
Manu is a surprise, though. After all, he did participate in the offseason program and there weren’t any reports of him dealing with an injury or missing time.
So, it would appear on the surface that his injury occurred at some point between the end of the offseason program in June and the start of training camp and, as the name of the list suggests, it happened away from the team.
Whatever the case may be, Manu and the three others can be activated off the lists at any time.
The Lions will begin training camp this week. Rookies reported on Saturday, and veterans will arrive on Tuesday. The first practice of training camp is slated for Wednesday.
