Jason Cabinda now eligible to return to Detroit Lions active roster

Examining which players from the Detroit Lions injury lists are cleared to play in Week 10.

There are 11 players on the Detroit Lions’ injury lists right now; four of those are thought to be season-ending injuries, but the other five, including Jason Cabinda, who was added this week, are well enough to play again at any point.

Cabinda was technically eligible to return in Week 9, but because of the team’s bye, that process was delayed a week.

Here’s an updated overview of the Lions’ injured players and when they are eligible to return. Note: bolded players are currently eligible.

Q-B Hendon Hooker (ACL): Not refundable, but may be returned at any moment
Q-B Nate Sudfeld (ACL): IR—final game of the season
Reuben Zonovan Knight: IR — final game of the season
Reuben Mohamed Ibrahim (hip): The squad for practice IR: Reentry is permitted in Week 13.
Facebook Jason Cabinda (knee): inactive; he can play again in Week 9.
TEL Shane Zylstra: IR — final game of the season
Overtime Matt Nelson (ankle): Injured but ready to go back at any moment
SIDE James Houston: IR; able to return at any moment; fibula
CBC Emmanuel Moseley (ACL): In-game — final game
Database C.J. Gardner-Johnson (pectoral): IR; returnable whenever you choose
A LS Scott Daly (knee): inactive; he can play again in Week 14.

Recall that during a season, NFL teams are only permitted to activate eight players off injured reserve. As of now, the Lions have activated three players from injured reserve: Julian Okwara in Week 5, CB/KR Josh Paschal in Week 7 and Khalil Dorsey in Week 6. Consequently, the Lions will only have five more chances to add players from injured reserve to the active roster.

None of the five active players who are eligible to return appear to be coming anytime soon. According to Hendon Hooker, there doesn’t seem to be a rush to return, as he informed Dave Birkett of the Free Press that he is around 90% recovered from his ACL. Due to their injuries, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, James Houston, and Matt Nelson all needed surgery, and it appears unlikely that they will ever fully recover.

Cabinda could be the closest of the bunch to return, but there is little known surrounding his status. After injuring his knee, Cabinda actually stayed on the active roster for two weeks—missing six practices—before landing in injured reserve, suggesting coaches/medical staff thought he might be close to returning during that timeframe. But his eventual landing on IR suggests he either had a setback or they felt he wasn’t improving fast enough and needed a block of time to rest/recover.

One thing to consider is that the Lions placed Daly on IR last week, and if they believed Cabinda—or any of the eligible players on this list—were close to returning, they likely would’ve kept that spot open for their return. But, they signed a seventh off-the-ball linebacker, UDFA rookie Trevor Nowaske, off the practice squad instead.