Lions rookie Julian Okwara activated from IR; Anthony Pittman to COVID-19 List

The Lions made a couple of roster moves late Tuesday, activating DE Julian Okwara from injured reserve and placing LB Anthony Pittman on the practice squad COVID-19 List, per the official transaction wire.

Okwara has been out since his Week 6 injury in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The rookie third-round pick out of Notre Dame has struggled to see the field this year, with the Jaguars game being his first significant action. Okwara will look to reunite with his older brother Romeo on the field Saturday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Pittman, an undrafted free agent out of Wayne State in 2019, is being placed on the COVID-19 List, presumably related to the earlier COVID-19 news from the Lions. The Lions announced earlier that they had two positive tests within the organization, one from a player and one from a non-player.

The COVID-19 news sets the Lions back, as they’re on a short week with a Saturday game and are now going virtual after cancelling practice Tuesday. They’ll hope that the team can stay healthy and no more tests come back positive between now and Saturday.