Kyle Van Noy Injury: Updates on Lions LB's Status and Return

Detroit Lions linebacker Kyle Van Noy has returned to practice despite worries he would be out "several weeks" with an unspecified injury. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press indicated on Aug. 24 it's not a hernia.

Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reported on Aug. 25 surgery is not expected at this time. Caldwell did not rule out a potential stint on the injured reserve list. If placed on short-term injured reserve, Van Noy will not be eligible to play for at least eight weeks.

Continue for updates.

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Van Noy, Caldwell Comment on Status After Return to Practice

Monday, Aug. 31

"I feel fine," Van Noy said, per Brendan Savage of MLive.com. "I feel good. I feel blessed to get back on the field. It's a start. I'm just blessed to be out there with my teammates."

Despite feeling fine, Van Noy wouldn't say if he'll be able to play in the Lions' final preseason game against the Bills.

"All I can control is myself and I'm doing everything I can to help the team," Van Noy said, per Savage. "I feel like I'm just going to go with what the coaches are going to say and go from there."

Caldwell was also asked about Van Noy's status, saying: "We'd like to have everybody up healthy, ready to go," per Savage. "But sometimes, it takes a little bit of time. He was able to get a little work in today and we'll kind see how he progresses. So he's on one of those return-to-play full protocols as well."

Van Noy's return to practice and potential return before the end of the preseason are in stark contrast to the mentality regarding his return just days earlier.

"I don't think it'll cost me a half of a season, that's for sure," Van Noy said on Aug. 30, per Birkett. "It's week to week." When asked about the specific nature of the injury, Van Noy refused to elaborate, saying: "You guys are going to have to talk to (Caldwell) and get it out of him. You ain't going to get it out of me."

"It's going to be a little while," Caldwell said, per Meinke on Aug. 25. "It's not one of those injuries where it takes a couple weeks."

A 2014 second-round pick, Van Noy was hoping to emerge after a disappointing rookie campaign that saw him record only six tackles. The BYU product spent time on the short-term injured reserve last season after undergoing surgery to repair a core muscle injury. With the Lions emerging as one of the NFL's best defenses in his absence, Van Noy was largely held to special teams duty.

Still, the team had big plans for him in 2015, pegging him as the projected strong-side linebacker in its 4-3 alignment. Van Noy has had an up-and-down preseason, struggling in pass coverage but finding intermittent success against the run. He made six tackles in Thursday's preseason loss to Washington.

"They don't really bother me. It's their job and they based it on one period," Van Noy said of criticism, per Justin Rogers of MLive.com. "That's totally fine and I don't really care. I know I'm working hard, trying to fix all of my mistakes."

The Lions will likely turn to Tahir Whitehead in Van Noy's absence. Whitehead made 86 tackles and two interceptions last season, starting 15 games. The Temple product doesn't have Van Noy's upside but will be a fine replacement, especially given his experience in the system.

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