Reinforcements on the way for Detroit Lions as Paschal, Moseley and Melifonwu return to practice

Josh Paschal is set to return from a two-game absence after an annual cancer screening revealed a shoulder mass that needed to be tested. (Getty Images)

Allen Park — After being diagnosed and treated for malignant melanoma in 2018, Detroit Lions Josh Paschal continues to have annual screenings to ensure there’s no reoccurrence of the disease.

During a recent checkup, doctors at Henry Ford discovered a small mass on Paschal’s shoulder, which needed to be removed and tested.

“It was definitely challenging, just because, of course, you know what you went through before,” Paschal admitted.

The relief is the mass was benign, but the procedure still managed to sideline Paschal two weeks, right when he was playing some of the best football of his young career.

“I was hoping just to be out for a week, but it wasn't something you could really bounce back from in a week, so it just took two,” Paschal said. “…It was definitely frustrating, especially with past injuries and stuff. And this wasn't something I could prevent, of course with it not being a physical, football-type injury. It was difficult, but I'm glad to be back now and I'm ready to get after this week in practice and set myself up for a big game on Sunday.”

Paschal had averaged 49 defensive snaps in the three games before the shoulder mass temporarily put him on the shelf. But he’s expected to be back for Sunday's primetime game against the Houston Texans.

Paschal wasn’t the only Lions player to return to practice this week. He was joined by two teammates who have been out a bit longer, cornerback Emmanuel Moseley and safety Ifeatu Melifonwu.

Both players remain on injured reserve but had their three-week acclimation clocks started this week. They are eligible to return as soon as the team’s staff determines they’re physically ready. It’s unlikely either play against Houston. The team’s Thanksgiving matchup against Chicago on Nov. 5 or the following week’s home game against Green Bay are more realistic targets.

Mosely has been out since August with a torn pec. Melifonwu, meanwhile, has been sidelined all year by a slow-healing ankle injury that eventually landed him on injured reserve ahead of the team's Week 4 game against Seattle.

Moseley and Melifonwu join Brodric Martin on the path to return from injured reserve. The second-year defensive tackle is slightly ahead of his teammates, entering the second week of his acclimation window.

That trio would represent the first three of eight alloted returns from injured reserve during the regular season. That number resets and is unlimited during the postseason, a procedural change that was approved this offseason after it was proposed by the Lions.

Other Lions eligible to return from injured reserve this season are defensive ends John Cominsky, Marcus Davenport and Aidan Hutchinson, defensive tackle Kyle Peko and linebacker Derrick Barnes.

A source familiar with Cominsky’s recovery said the current expectation is the lineman could be ready by the postseason. The team has also hinted Hutchinson could achieve an accelerated timetable that would allow him to play in the Super Bowl, if the Lions advance to the game for the first time in franchise history.

There’s been no indication Davenport, Peko or Barnes will be able to return at any point this season.