Former Kentucky Wildcats standout Josh Paschal has missed the last couple of games for the Detroit Lions due to a health issue. He had just posted one of his best performances of the season, recording four tackles and a sack against the Vikings.

However, Paschal was sidelined for consecutive games and revealed on Wednesday that the reason was the removal of a non-cancerous mass from his shoulder at Henry Ford Hospital.

Paschal described the situation as frustrating but expressed his excitement about returning to the field.

“It was definitely frustrating,” he said. “But I’m glad to be back now and ready to get after it this week in practice to set myself up for a big game on Sunday night,” he told reporters.

This is not the first time Paschal has faced health challenges unrelated to football. While at Kentucky, he was diagnosed with skin cancer, which made this latest health setback even more emotional.

Despite the challenges, Paschal remains focused on getting back to playing and helping his team.

Adding a unique twist to his return, Paschal’s comeback is tied to a Kentucky connection, as the Lions recently traded for another former Wildcat, Za’Darius Smith.

“He’s a great player, Kentucky guy too, so it’s good to have another Kentucky guy in the room,” Paschal said of Smith.

“He actually played with my brother back in college, so I know him from the past.”

With his health issues behind him, Paschal is eager to contribute again, and his return will certainly be a welcome boost for the Lions.