Lions place three potential starters on PUP list, and rookie on NFI list

Two of the Lions' biggest offseason acquisitions and one of their best young players will start training camp on the sidelines. So will one of their rookies.

The Lions placed defensive linemen DJ Reader and Marcus Davenport and defensive back Brian Branch on the Physically Unable to Perform list Sunday, unsurprising moves as each player works his way back from injury. The first practice of camp is Wednesday.

Reader, the veteran defensive tackle who came to Detroit on a two-year, $22 million deal, is recovering from a torn quad he suffered last December for which he underwent surgery. It was the second such injury of his career, but the Lions aren't worried about Reader's readiness for his ninth NFL season.

"That's not something that we're caught off guard by," Dan Campbell said in June. "We knew this would take a minute here."

Davenport is coming off a high-ankle sprain last October that later required surgery. The veteran defensive end, who's entering his seventh NFL season, signed a one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Lions to aid their pass rush.

Branch, who played through an ankle injury for most of last season, had what Campbell called "a little cleanup" procedure this offseason. He was on a knee scooter and later in a walking boot during practices this spring. The Lions have big plans for Branch in year two, but have to get him fully healthy first.

Detroit also placed Giovanni Manu on the Non Football Injury list Sunday after the giant offensive lineman suffered an apparent injury during the team's summer break. Manu took part in practices this spring, so the news comes as a surprise. The Lions traded up to take the 6'7, 355-pound tackle in the fourth round of this year's draft.