Lions defensive end 
“I haven’t practiced with pads on yet so I don’t know if that would be a good idea," Avril said after Thursday's unpadded practice. “If I’m not ready there’s no point of me going out there and competing."
Avril has only been a full participant in two Lions practices since signing his $10.6 million franchise tender last Sunday, and neither of those practices was padded.
Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said he was impressed with the shape Avril came into practice in and wasn't ready to rule Avril out of the lineup Friday night.
“He’s in very good shape and you can see just what he’s doing now, he’s a professional,” Schwartz said. “He just had a good practice and he’s going out and getting his body ready. So you know, if he needs to, he’d be available.”
Schwartz said he’ll make a determination on anyone who would not be available for the game Friday morning.
“I’ll get you a list probably tomorrow morning,” he told reporters after practice Thursday. “Get you a list of anybody that is definitely not going to play, anybody else, you know, just be game time (decision). There will be some people that we’ll hold out but I’m not going to announce them now.”
Avril, who led the team with 11 sacks and six forced fumbles last season, doesn’t look likes he’s skipped a beat in the two practices he's participated in, despite missing the team’s first nine practices of training camp before signing his franchise tender last Sunday.
"The work that I put in this offseason shows a little bit," Avril said.
