As the Detroit Lions prepare for their Week 15 game against the Buffalo Bills, head coach Dan Campbell offered an encouraging update on the status of five key players.

Speaking with the media on Friday, Campbell expressed confidence that several players who had been dealing with injuries were progressing well.

“Paschal’s had a good week so far. Reader, Levi, and Decker are all trending in the right direction.

Mac has cleared protocol, so we’re feeling optimistic about all of them,” Campbell said.

“Today will be an important day for them, but it’s been a positive week for us overall.”

The players in question are defensive linemen Josh Paschal, DJ Reader, Levi Onwuzurike, and Alim McNeill, along with offensive tackle Taylor Decker.

Although these players were limited in earlier practices, Campbell’s remarks suggest they are on track to be available for Sunday’s game against the Bills.

Campbell also highlighted the significance of the team’s mini-bye, a brief but valuable break that allowed the Lions to recharge ahead of their final stretch.

“It felt like a mini-bye, a chance to catch our breath,” Campbell said.

“We were able to regroup and revisit some things that helped us early in the season, and it gave us time to focus on some critical work.”

As the Lions aim for the NFC’s top spot, Campbell acknowledged the challenge posed by the Bills, a high-caliber team with a 10-3 record. “This is a very good team that plays at a high level, so we’ll need to be at our best,” he stated.

Despite the tough challenge ahead, the Lions are looking forward to the matchup with their playoff hopes on the line and several key players potentially returning to action.