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After missing the last six weeks of action with a broken forearm, Lions defensive back Drayton Florence returned to practice for the first time on Wednesday, according to Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press.
Signed by the Lions at the beginning of September, the 31-year-old Florence was officially placed on the team's injured/reserve list with a designation to return after suffering the injury in Week 2. Florence is not allowed to return to until Nov. 18 due to his specialized distinction, but will be permitted to practice in full with his teammates in the meantime.
Sure to offer a significant boost for head coach Jim Schwartz's secondary if he's able to play on Nov. 18 against the rival Green Bay Packers, Florence is one of a handful of Detroit defensive backs that has been forced to battle through injuries in the first-half of 2012. It's quite a promising sign that Florence was available to practice roughly three weeks before his scheduled return date however, and there's a great chance that he'll be ready for live action by mid-November.