Multiple Lions Eligible to Return from Reserve List next week…but will they?

With Week 4 off and running, there will be a significant number of players around the NFL that will be eligible to come off their team’s respective reserve lists starting Monday or Tuesday next week.  The Lions have a total of 15 Players currently on one their reserve list, with nine of them already declared out for the season. However, that leaves six players, including several key contributors, that will be eligible to return mid-year including four of them eligible to come off the Reserve List at the conclusion of Week 4 Monday 10/29/25.  Here is a refresher on the NFL Reserve List rules for 2025, which allow up to eight returning players for the season, with each player only allowed to return twice:  2025 NFL Reserve list rules

• PUP List: Players who suffered injuries during NFL activities before training camp must sit out the first four games of the regular season. Afterward, teams have a five-week window to allow these players to start practicing. Once practice begins, teams have an additional three weeks to decide whether to activate the player or keep them on the PUP list for the remainder of the season.

• NFI List: Similar to the PUP list but applies to players who were injured outside of NFL activities. These injuries could occur during personal workouts, accidents, or from pre-existing conditions that players had before joining the NFL.

• IR List: Players on the injured reserve list must miss a minimum of four games before they can return. Once a player is healthy enough to practice, they must be designated for a return. This designation clears the player to resume practice and triggers a 21-day window during which the team must either activate the player onto the 53-man roster or place them on season-ending injured reserve.

Teams can designate up to eight players for return from injured reserve during the season. However, each player can be designated for return only twice.

Here are the four players, all key contributors, with a brief history of the reason they are on a Reserve List and timeline of updates. Looking at the injuries and recent updates, it appears only one player (Miles Frazier) may be ready to start his practice window next week.

Josh Paschal – EDGE – Unidentified Surgery

Projected return: Mid to Late October

Josh Paschal, the Detroit Lions' third-year defensive end underwent an unspecified "clean-out" surgery during the offseason following his annual cancer screening. Paschal has a history with skin cancer, having been diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma (a rare, aggressive form) on his right foot in 2018 during his sophomore year at Kentucky. He underwent three surgeries and months of treatment that year but overcame it. Since then, he's maintained yearly scans, with no recurrence reported. The recent surgery, described by head coach Dan Campbell as a "clean-up" procedure was not identified to a specific issue.

Key Timeline and Progress

• Injury Onset/Surgery: Offseason 2025 (exact date unspecified, prior to OTAs in May).

• July 20, 2025 Update: Campbell projected Paschal to miss all of preseason but return "probably early September," positioning him as the No. 3 DE behind Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport once healthy.

• August 21, 2025 Update: Timeline extended; Campbell indicated Paschal would likely start the season on the non-football injury (NFI) list, sidelining him for at least the first four games (through October 2 vs. Carolina Panthers). This allows a 21-day practice window upon designation for return.

• September 26, 2025 Status: With the Lions at 2-1 through Week 3, Paschal remains on NFI with no reported setbacks. He's eligible for activation as early as Week 5 (October 2), but projections lean toward a mid-to-late October debut to ensure full ramp-up. Recent team reports note steady rehab progress, focusing on strength and conditioning.

Alim McNeil – DL – Knee Injury

Projected return: Likely Early November

Alim McNeill, the Detroit Lions' star defensive tackle and a cornerstone of their front four, suffered a torn ACL in his right knee on December 15, 2024, during a Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He underwent successful surgery shortly after and was placed on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list at the start of training camp in July 2025, making him ineligible to practice or play until designated for return.

Key Timeline and Progress

• Injury Onset: December 15, 2024, vs. Buffalo Bills.

• April 2025 Update: Head coach Dan Campbell indicated McNeill would likely miss training camp and the "early part of the season," emphasizing a cautious approach to ensure full recovery.

• May-June 2025 Updates: McNeill shared positive progress, noting his leg was "getting strong" and expected to be "better than before" after rigorous rehab.

• July 2025 Update: GM Brad Holmes suggested a potential return "a little bit earlier than expected," with McNeill feeling "really good" during training.

• August 2025 Status: Described his rehab as "putting the finishing touches on a cake," ahead of schedule but still on PUP with no firm date.

• September 7, 2025 Update: Provided a soft timeline, confirming he'd be back "for sure" before Thanksgiving (Week 13, November 27), now in the final stages of rehab.

• September 18, 2025 Status: Revealed he's 93-94% recovered and could play if needed this week, nine months post-injury and on the early side of the typical 9 to 12-month ACL timeline. Still on PUP, eligible for designation to return as early as Week 5 (October 2 vs. Carolina Panthers), with a 21-day window to activate. Optimistic projections point to mid-October at the earliest, though November is more realistic to allow 1-2 weeks of practice reps.

Malcolm Rodriguez – LB – Knee Injury

Projected return: Late October – Early November

Malcolm Rodriguez, the Detroit Lions' fourth-year linebacker and key special teams’ contributor, suffered a torn ACL in his right knee on November 28, 2024 (Thanksgiving Day), during a Week 13 victory over the Chicago Bears. The 26-year-old was placed on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list at the start of training camp in July 2025, making him ineligible to practice or play until designated for return.

Key Timeline and Progress

• Injury Onset: November 28, 2024, vs. Chicago Bears.

• June 5, 2025 Update: Head coach Dan Campbell provided a conservative estimate, stating Rodriguez would miss the first two months of the season and target a return "somewhere in November."

• July 22, 2025 Update: Campbell offered a more optimistic outlook during training camp, projecting Rodriguez as "another October guy," aligning him with a mid-season return rather than late in the year.

• August 18, 2025 Status: Still on the PUP list to start the regular season, with steady rehab progress noted but no acceleration beyond the October timeline.

• September 26, 2025 Status: No new setbacks reported. Rodriguez remains on PUP, meaning he can be activated after the team's fourth game (October 2 vs. Carolina Panthers) but is unlikely to debut until late October or early November, depending on ramp-up. Recent observations show him progressing in individual drills, similar to other recovering players.

Mile Frazier – IOL – Knee Injury

Projected return: As soon as Week 5

Miles Frazier, the Detroit Lions' fifth-round pick (No. 171 overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft out of LSU, suffered a knee injury during the offseason, sidelining him since late May 2025. The 6-foot-6, 317-pound versatile interior offensive lineman (capable of playing guard and tackle) was placed on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list when he reported to training camp on July 17. Head coach Dan Campbell confirmed the injury on July 22, estimating a return timeline of "September or October," which would allow Frazier to miss all of training camp and preseason but potentially debut early in the regular season.

Key Timeline and Progress

• Injury Onset: Late May 2025, prior to OTAs (where Frazier was already limited).

• July 22 Update: Campbell described it as a "knee" issue without further specifics, noting it occurred before camp and projecting a multi-month recovery. Analysts speculated it could involve surgery given the ~4-month timeline from onset.

• August 15 Status: Listed as "returning later in the season" alongside other key players like LB Malcolm Rodriguez (ACL) and DT Alim McNeill (ACL).

• August 31 Progress: Frazier posted on social media showing him back to light practice work while still on PUP, signaling positive momentum ahead of the NFL opener. This suggested he was ramping up conditioning after missing reps.

• September 19 Update: Observed working individually with a trainer during practice, but still ineligible to return to full team drills until Week 5 (October 2, 2025, vs. Carolina Panthers). This aligns with PUP rules: players can return after the fourth game if activated off the list.