The Detroit Lions are set to begin training camp shortly, but they're going to be decidedly thin at the cornerback position. Fifth-round draft pick Chris Greenwood is set to begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list -- or the PUP list, according to the team's official website. Greenwood tore a lower abdomen muscle during organized team activities in May and required surgery. He will not be ready by the start of training camp.
If he comes back before the start of the regular season, then he can come off the PUP list at any time. If he's not ready by the end of the preseason, then he'll have to transition to the regular season PUP list, which makes him ineligible to come back until after Week 6 of the regular season, at which point the team can choose to make him count against the 53-man roster or keep him on the list. If they keep him on the list, he remains there all season, effectively on injured reserve.
Greenwood was hoping to make a splash in training camp, as the Lions are hurting a good amount at the CB position. The team lost Eric Wright in free agency and really didn't have much else at all anyway. They took steps to bring in some guys from the draft but then lost someone else on Monday, as the team terminated the contract of Aaron Berry, who was slated to be a starter.
Still, if Greenwood can get back in a reasonable time, he should still be able to show the Lions what he can do, because they're not suddenly going to be deep at the position. Cornerback remains a slot that has holes to fill for the Lions, and a return prior to the regular season would still give him plenty of time to fight for a spot in, say, the nickel role.
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