Lions hope to get defensive reinforcements back in ‘late December, January’

Allen Park — For as much as they have missed C.J. Gardner-Johnson at the safety position, the Detroit Lions could use him just as much for his mentality.

The day following a 28-13 loss to the Chicago Bears, after which defensive lineman John Cominsky said the defense has lost its “confidence and swagger,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said he still doesn’t expect reinforcement either Gardner-Johnson (pec) or pass rusher James Houston (ankle) to come until “late December, January.”

“Lazarus has a chance” to return this year, Campbell said about Gardner-Johnson. “He’s improved. … CJ, man, he’s kicked it into overdrive. He’s healed quick … and most of it’s gonna be about, just, is his body ready for that?”

Houston, who suffered a broken ankle in Week 2 that required surgery, said last week he hoped to get “some games in” (read: plural) before playoffs, putting some hope behind the idea he might be able to return to practice in the immediate future, and even as early as this week.

But asked whether Houston had a shot to return to practice before the team’s Saturday primetime matchup against the Broncos, Campbell said, “I think it’ll be a while before that. Look, I do think there’s a chance (he’ll come back this season), but we’re looking late December, January, possibly.”

Gardner-Johnson, who suffered a torn pec in the Week 2 loss to Seattle, has seemingly hinted on social media that he plans to return to practice Dec. 20. 

Once the Lions designate those players for return and open their acclimation windows, they have a maximum of three weeks to get them on the active roster. When a player is returning from a serious injury the likes of Houston or Gardner-Johnson, it can probably be assumed they’ll use most (if not all) of that three-week window. Players have to get used to football speed again.

For the sake of argument, let’s assume the Lions are planning to use the entire re-acclimation window for Houston and Gardner-Johnson. If they don’t return to practice this week, it seems as if it would be tough to give either player a return to action before playoffs.

In the meantime…

It was a bit of a mixed bag for the two players who the Lions are hoping to get back in the immediate future. 

It’s yet to be determined whether center Frank Ragnow (knee/toe/back), who missed Sunday’s loss to Chicago after departing early from the team’s win over the New Orleans Saints, will be healthy enough to play Saturday. Graham Glasgow took over his role at center, and Kayode Awosika slotted in at Glasgow's usual spot of right guard.

“(Ragnow is) improving, but there again, I won’t know for a little bit here,” Campbell said.

The one transaction (or lack thereof) over the weekend that caught people by surprise was the Lions not elevating Bruce Irvin from the practice squad to the active roster.

The 36-year-old Irvin was signed by the Lions in mid-November and made his debut at New Orleans, where he played 11 snaps and sacked Saints quarterback Derek Carr before later knocking him out of the game with a vicious hit. 

Irvin was dealing with an ankle injury last week, which was not listed on the team’s injury report because of his practice-squad assignment. Campbell confirmed the lingering ankle injury kept him out of Sunday’s game at Soldier Field in Chicago.

“He’s improving too,” Campbell said.

nbianchi@detroitnews.com

@nolanbianchi