Jimmy Rolder returns as Lions boast good health ahead of opener
· Yahoo Sports
ALLEN PARK — Detroit Lions fans: rejoice.
All 52 players from the team's active roster were present on the practice field on Tuesday, Sept. 8, as the team began preparations for the season opener against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Sept. 13 at Ford Field.
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That list includes several players returning from injury, including rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder (hamstring), rookie defensive end Derrick Moore (undisclosed), defensive back Christian Izien (undisclosed) and safety Thomas Harper (ankle). That list does not include players on injury lists, such as center Cade Mays (wrist) and safeties Kerby Joseph (knee) and Brian Branch (Achilles).
But generally speaking, the Lions' health is in a great place entering the regular season, and the return of several injured players whose status was previously up in the air heading into Sunday should be a huge boost against the Saints.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said he wasn't sure if Izien, the projected starter at nickel cornerback, would be ready to go by Week 1. Rolder's return timeline from the hamstring injury he suffered in the first week of camp was unclear at the time, but Campbell was optimistic about getting him back to practice early in the season.
Rolder, a fourth-round pick in April, will need some time to ramp up physically after missing the last month, and missing nearly all of camp at the linebacker position can be tough to overcome. But his early return to the field bodes well for defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard's prediction that Rolder will be able to help the Lions this year.
@nolanbianchi
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Jimmy Rolder returns as Lions boast good health ahead of opener