Lions Insider

PHOENIX -- The Detroit Lions felt good enough about Louis Delmas' recent knee troubles to re-sign the talented safety to a two-year deal last week. Delmas has missed 13 games over the last two seasons with troubles in both knees.

"We certainly are on top of where he is physically and with his rehab," Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said at the NFL League Meetings.

"That's one of the reasons we brought him in. We've been constantly monitoring that situation with his knee and we will certainly continue to work on his rehab."

Kyle Vanden Bosch and Corey Williams are two recent examples of the Lions paring down a veteran's practice schedule to limit wear and tear on the body. When asked if the team would take a similar approach to Delmas, Mayhew said it's something he wouldn't be opposed to.

"It's early in the process," he said. "We are going to continue to try and rehab it. In an ideal world he's 100 percent, full go like everyone. But if he needs that, we're open to managing him."

Delmas is a smart football player and doesn't get the credit he probably deserves for being a student of the game.

San Francisco head coach Jim Harbaugh told Detroitlions.com that Delmas impressed him when the two met during a free agent visit. He said he could see Delmas being a coach when his playing days were over.

Mayhew said he wouldn't be worried at all about Delmas' preparedness if such a schedule was ever implemented.

"We talk a lot about him being a smart football player and that obviously helps (if he is unable to practice)," Mayhew said.

"But in an ideal world, he is, like Jim says, he's in the general population. He does what everybody else does. But if he needs to be managed, he's a guy who can handle that."