Alim McNeill is closing in on his return. Dan Campbell said Monday that the Lions will likely start McNeill's practice clock this week, which would line him up to make his season debut in October.
McNeill, Detroit's top defensive tackle, tore his ACL last December against the Bills. Oct. 15 will mark 10 months since the injury.
"There’s a good chance we may start Mac’s clock this week," Campbell said. "So that’s good. We want to make sure that we check all those boxes before we say that that’s what we’re going to do for sure. But it’s trending the right way, he’s about ready to go."
McNeill has attacked his rehab and put himself in position to return even sooner than the Lions originally expected. Once they start McNeill's practice clock, the Lions will have three weeks to activate him.
"I think he’s tired of training," Campbell said. "He’s trained all he can train. He’s done everything you can do. He just needs football. He's done an unbelievable job ... and obviously the work that he’s put into it has been pretty special."