Rookie offensive lineman Miles Frazier has had a frustrating start to his NFL career.
Frazier's been dealing with a knee injury that required the Lions to start his season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, causing him to miss training camp, the preseason and the first nine weeks of the regular season.
But Frazier is making his way back and a big first step is the Lions starting his practice window Wednesday, which will give head coach Dan Campbell and the coaches 21 days to evaluate Frazier and determine if he can be part of their plans at either guard or tackle moving forward.
"No training camp, no nothing, so this will be a little bit of a baby fawn at the beginning and then he'll quickly grow," Campbell said Wednesday of Frazier. "It's a little bit like (Lions OL Christian) Mahogany (last year). It took a while but once we got him, he just quickly grew with practice reps."
Detroit moved up into the fifth round of this year's NFL Draft to select Frazier, who was a three-year starter at LSU, primarily at right guard, but he did take some snaps at right tackle and left guard. He was the backup at both right tackle and left tackle.
"Well, he's versatile," Campbell said. "He can play the guard, he can play tackle - he did both of those at LSU. He can sustain blocks, he's got power, he's pretty tenacious, he finishes. There's a lot of things that we like about him. He's going to need reps."
Frazier didn't allow a single sack last season for the Tigers in 13 starts. In fact, he allowed only four sacks in three seasons as part of LSU's 'bomb squad' offensive line unit.
The Lions are dealing with several injuries upfront along their offensive line. Mahogany is out until at least late December at left guard with a broken bone in his left leg. Both tackles Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell are dealing with injuries and missed practice Wednesday.
Getting a versatile player like Frazier back in the mix could help Detroit's depth at both spots.
Frazier got reps Wednesday at both guard spots and right tackle, and said he's ready to step in wherever the Lions might need him.
"Since I was 5, I've been playing football and this is the only time I've been out since that whole time," Frazier said Wednesday. "It's a humbling experience. I'm just trying to take it day by day and correct stuff. I just need the most reps possible I can get. I'm willing to play whatever. Wherever the team needs me. Wherever coach Campbell needs me, I'm ready."
PASCHAL BACK AT PRACTICE
Detroit also started the practice window of edge rusher Josh Paschal on Wednesday. He's been out all season with a back injury.
Paschal was Detroit's second-round pick in 2022 and is entering the final year of his rookie deal. He's played in 36 games with 18 starts through his first three seasons with 62 tackles, 5.0 sacks and 15 quarterback hits. He gives Detroit another inside/outside presence along their defensive front.
"I feel like I'm in great shape," Paschal said Wednesday. "I just have to be able to play football and get some reps in. We have a great team and great defense and I'm just looking forward to seeing what I can do and what my role will be to be able to help them."
GETTING TESLAA MORE INVOLVED
Rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa was targeted once in each of Detroit's first two games in Green Bay and vs. Chicago. He rewarded those targets with one-handed catches in both contests, one of them for a touchdown.
But since then, TeSlaa's been targeted just four times in six games with one touchdown reception for 12 yards vs. Cincinnati Week 5. He's played 48 offensive snaps through Detroit's first eight games, but we could see more of TeSlaa moving forward.
"I'd like to get him on the field a little bit more," Campbell said on his weekly radio segment on 97.1. "We came out of the bye and there were a couple of things that we noticed and wanted to get (Kalif Raymond) more involved, and we didn't necessarily get that going last week. But we need to get (Raymond) involved, we need to get TeSlaa involved."
That's something TeSlaa is certainly looking forward to if it comes to fruition moving forward.
"Yeah, that's super encouraging to me," TeSlaa said Wednesday. "Obviously, as a rookie, you don't know what expectations to have going into the season. Obviously had a great preseason but I knew my role going into the season was going to be that rotational player. But definitely encouraging."
EXTRA POINT
- The Lions signed offensive linemen Jack Conley, Chris Hubbard and Netane Muti to the practice squad.
