Catching up around the division Wednesday after Brian Urlacher's retirement illuminated at least one curious development.
Detroit Lions safety Louis Delmas isn't participating in organized team activities (OTAs), and not just simply to avoid wear and tear on his troublesome knees. According to what Lions coach Jim Schwartz told reporters, Delmas isn't able to participate.
"He's not here right now going through this stuff," Schwartz said. "But there's nothing that he could get out of this because he can't physically do the stuff that we're doing right now."
The news perpetuates the impression that Delmas has a chronic condition that could make it hard for him to play a full season, similar to his experience in 2011 and 2012.
He played in the Lions' final three regular-season games, so it's fair to wonder if he has suffered a new injury or had another surgery since then to put him in this position. The NFL does not require teams to report offseason injuries.
Regardless, nearly five months after he last played, Delmas isn't participating in a non-contact practice. That news wouldn't merit a blip on this blog, of course, were it not for Delmas' long injury history.
General manager Martin Mayhew acknowledged concern about Delmas' physical condition in February, and as we noted in March, the team re-signed Delmas to a two-year contract that was largely incentive-based. But it did include a $1 million signing bonus, an indication the Lions feel reasonably confident he will be available to them during the regular season. The good news is that Delmas has 3 1/2 months before Week 1 arrives.