Lions defensive line coach Todd Wash said that Okwara (Achilles) is expected to be ready around the middle of the season, Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press reports.
A midseason return would be more than a month past the anniversary of Okwara's surgery to repair a torn Achilles. While it had seemed possible that it wouldn't take that long for the 27-year-old to return to game shape, the Lions' coaching staff doesn't seem inclined to rush Okwara back on the field. Okwara thus looks set to spend both training camp and the first part of the regular season on the PUP list. Meanwhile, look for Aidan Hutchinson and Charles Harris to take on large early season roles at defensive end.