Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes was back at the team facility this week for the first time since his Week 3 leg injury that will likely cost him the rest of the 2024 season. For the past few months, Barnes has been in the very early stages of recovery after surgery to repair MCL and PCL tears. He’s been doing physical therapy in West Lafayette while sporting crutches and a brace. Now, the crutches are gone, the brace is off, and he couldn’t be more thrilled to join his teammates and coaches back in Allen Park.

“Got to see everybody, I got to see the coaches bring joy to me,” Barnes said Wednesday in his first media appearance since the injury. “The coaches in there with me and we’re laughing and giggling the whole time. So you know, it feels good.

“Being away is just not for me. I can’t. Me and Alex (Anzalone) were joking, I was like, ‘Man, I won’t miss football when I retire,’ because it’s like, all this work that I put in, the lifting and running. I was like, ‘I ain’t gonna miss that.’ And then you get away and something like this happens, and I miss it all. So it feels good to be back.”

Barnes’ rehab begins phase two back in Detroit. Working behind the scenes—along with fellow injured defender Aidan Hutchinson—Barnes began an intensive process this week with Lions director of player health and performance Brett Fischer. Both Fischer and Hutchinson are already pushing him to reach his goals, and Barnes was surprised by his progress already.

“I didn’t know I was gonna be able to ride the bike today,” Barnes said. “Got on the bike. Did a little bit of walking inside of the water, which was good. My legs were super stiff. Today was the first day I felt kind of normal.”

Barnes didn’t have a timeline for his recovery, and wouldn’t say whether he’s still aiming for a return this season. The focus is more on getting better each individual day. That said, he admitted the success of the team is an extra motivation to get back on the field as soon as possible.

“Yeah, of course. A hundred percent,” Barnes said. “I mean, man, those guys out there balling, man, it’s amazing to see. […] I think probably the game days is the most days where I feel down. I’m like, ‘Man, I really wish I was there.’ But it brings me joy to see what his team is accomplishing.”

Barnes was injured against the Arizona Cardinals when tight end Tip Reiman crossed the formation and delivered a cut block directly into his right knee.

Derrick Barnes R knee injury video
-Direct impact to knee, fortunately foot not planted
-Looks like lateral side hit which could cause MCL sprain.
-Placed on IR. If non-severe MCL, could be back in 4-6wks. pic.twitter.com/WKYGHwaKbM

— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) September 25, 2024

Barnes thinks those types of blocks have no place in the game today.

“I think it should be banned,” Barnes said. “I think that the offense gets a lot of leeway. More than a defense. It’s football, though. I never sit there and complain about it. I do the hitting and then when I get hit, something like this happens. But nah, I don’t really agree with the play, but like I said, it is football, it does happen. You know, I would never wish that upon nobody.”

Currently, there is a rule that bans blocks below the waist if they occur 2 yards outside the tackle box or 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. This block, however, clearly occurred in the “legal” area.

But Barnes is beyond that, looking forward, and remaining optimistic about his future. While he wouldn’t commit to be already being ahead of schedule in his rehab, he certainly believes he’ll get there.

“I will be. Let’s put it like that. Pretty soon I will be ahead of schedule.”