Darius Slay and Damon Harrison reported for training camp Wednesday, but they're not quite ready to practice.
The Lions placed both players on the non-football injury list Thursday, along with defensive tackle Darius Kilgo. Slay and Harrison, of course, sat out OTAs and minicamp as they angled for new deals, so this is a way for the Lions to ease them back into action.
Matt Patricia made the announcement prior to the team's first practice Thursday morning.
"Just another tag that we're allowed to use when we come to camp so that guys when they report to camp, if we feel they need a little bit more time before they're thrown into individual drills, they go out prepared and away we go. We're going to do that with them, just physically ready to go," Patricia said.
There was a chance that Slay and Harrison would hold out during training camp, but the duo ultimately backed down. Their agent, Drew Rosenahus, met with the Lions last week.
It's not yet clear when either one will start practicing, but their presence in the facility has already given their teammates a lift. Slay, 28, and Harrison, 30, are obviously huge pieces of a Lions defense that has high expectations heading into the season
"It's a huge morale boost to see your guys, especially after a long break like we've had," Jarrad Davis said Wednesday. "To have those guys here, it adds to the work that we put in earlier this year. We just have to go out and hit the same stride that we were on in OTAs and minicamp and just continue to have success in practice and carry it over to the season."
Kilgo, 27, is a five-year vet the Lions signed to a one-year deal in the offseason.
With Trey Flowers on the PUP list, Detroit will be without its three most prominent defensive players to open training camp.
