Dan Campbell’s press conference today provided updates on Mekhi Wingo and Josh Paschal with quotes included below. There has also been a lot of positive movement with multiple injured players over the past few days.
Mekhi Wingo – Came off PUP list on 8/19
“He’s not going to get any team this week. That makes it even harder.”
It sounds like he’s got a little ways to go before he’s ready for game action. But it’s a very positive sign for his health that the Lions took him off PUP prior to the cutdown date on 8/26. The team could have strategically kept him on PUP into the season which would have freed up a 53-man roster spot. By taking him off PUP now, it suggests he’s expected to be ready sometime in September.
To recap his injury history, Wingo had a right knee meniscus injury on November 28, 2024 with subsequent surgery. This surgery is presumed to be a repair, and not a simple trim.
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The recovery was taking longer than typical, and this week he revealed the reason for the delay – a knee cleanup surgery over the summer.
Detroit Lions Mekhi Wingo
“I’ve been working my butt off” pic.twitter.com/3pjVg5J2PZ— DetroitSportsPodcast (@DetroitPodcast) August 19, 2025
The cleanup suggests that there was loose or frayed cartilage in his knee that was causing discomfort. Hopefully, the cleanup surgery has resolved those symptoms.
Going forward, any kind of cartilage damage increases the possibility of developing degenerative or arthritic issues at some point down the line. There is no way to predict when or if this might happen.
Josh Paschal – Return is delayed
“Could be a little later than we hoped.”
Paschal had an unspecified “cleanup” surgery on an unknown date, with an earlier Dan Campbell expectation of a September return. Campbell’s comments today suggest that Paschal will remain on NFI into the season, which will delay his return until at least October.
The NFI designation now becomes important (vs PUP) because it allows the Lions to not have to pay his regular season base salary. His base salary for this season is a reasonable $1.7 million, so the money shouldn’t impact too much when the Lions decide to bring him back.
There are some ongoing health concerns given the multi-month recovery of this cleanup surgery, of which the details are still unknown.
Kerby Joseph – Fully practicing on 8/21
Best in NFL! Kerby picked off Texans
— DetroitSportsPodcast (@DetroitPodcast) August 21, 2025
Joseph has been dealing on and off with a left knee issue since early in camp. It’s good to see him making plays today at joint practice with the Texans.
Khalil Dorsey – Came off PUP list on 8/18
Dorsey’s timeline tracks with expectations for his recovery from a tib/fib fracture on December 15, 2024. This is good news for his health, as the Lions could have kept him on PUP to free up a 53-man roster spot. He could be ready for game action as early as Week 1.
Ahmed Hassanein – On 8/18, confirmed pec injury with no surgery
The news has been favorable so far as he is suspected to have a pec strain (partial tear) and not a full rupture. As I discussed in this previous article, the decision whether to place him on IR-to-return at the cutdown date will be informative.
At this point, I expect Hassanein to be placed on IR-to-return with a return in October or November. If he is not placed on IR-to-return, he could be back in September.
Sam LaPorta (unspecified) and Tim Patrick (hamstring) – Returned to practice on 8/19
Both these players only missed a few days of practice and are of no concern going forward.
Morice Norris – Working with trainer on 8/19
to be clear, Norris wasn’t doing any individual drills. Just working with a trainer.
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) August 19, 2025
There continues to be excellent news for Norris following his concussion with seizure on 8/8. Working with a trainer just 11 days post-injury suggests that there has been no further seizure activity which gives him a favorable prognosis as explained in my previous article.
NEWS FROM TODAY….
Graham Glasgow – lower leg injury in practice 8/21
Jeff Risdon observed that he “did get up and then left the field (slowly) on his own without any assistance.” This is a hopeful sign that the injury is not serious, but there are no details at this time.
Amon-Ra St. Brown
His abdomen is feeling more comfortable after the news today that Harrison Phillips has been traded from the Vikings to the Jets. This play happened at the end of the 2023 season.
Amon-Ra St Brown L abdomen injury video
-Takes a hard knee to abdomen. Hope just a contusion. Possible rib sprain also. pic.twitter.com/EpL6ZJw8xw— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) January 8, 2024
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions injury updates August 21 including lots of positive news
