The Lions have been dealt blow after blow with injuries in recent weeks, but one injured player could soon be returning to help make a playoff push.
Head coach Dan Campbell was asked about the status of safety Ifeatu Melifonwu Monday and if he’ll be back soon. Melifonwu is eligible to return to practice and be activated this week.
Campbell said: “I see his clock starting, and so then it’s ‘Well, OK, that’s good.’ We get him out at practice, do we think he could help us as early as Sunday? I don’t know that right now, and I won’t until we get him out there running around a little bit.”
Campbell briefly mentioned Melifonwu as an option to fill at cornerback following the injuries to Carlton Davis and Khalil Dorsey. Campbell was also asked if Melifonwu could see time at linebacker.
“Yeah, tough to say,” Campbell said. “I mean he could, depending on if we’re talking about base downs, third downs, is there a place, a role, is it – I wouldn’t shut that down. I think wherever we feel like he can help, we’re open to it.”
Melifonwu has yet to appear in a game this season due to multiple injuries. After missing the first three games with an ankle injury, Melifonwu was placed on injured reserve, only to suffer another injury in November and go right back on injured reserve.
