NFL teams
Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer 11y

Ziggy Ansah back at practice

NFL, Detroit Lions

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Detroit Lions rookie defensive end Ziggy Ansah returned to practice Thursday for the first time since suffering a concussion Aug. 24.

Ansah's ailment was first revealed as a concussion during Wednesday's injury report. Lions coach Jim Schwartz previously had evaded every question about Ansah and a possible concussion.

When Ansah was concussed in late August, he left practice and returned later in the day. The next day, he left practice during stretching, not returning until Thursday. Schwartz initially declined to answer why Ansah was inserted back into the preseason practice after the concussion.

When pressed about enforcing stricter concussion testing, Schwartz elaborated and answered part of the question.

"We have protocols that we follow, and we're going to make the best decisions that we can," Schwartz said. "Those are difficult decisions to make, and it is what it is. It was a nonpadded practice, and there was no more contact after he returned.

"It wasn't like he was put into a full, padded practice or more contact or stuff like that. Those are difficult situations. I've said a lot of times concussions are different than ankles and hamstrings and shoulders and everything else."

Schwartz would not say, though, whether Ansah will be available for Detroit's first game of the season Sunday against Minnesota. Ansah was not available to the media during the open-locker-room session Thursday.

"All our guys that have been injured are all progressing well," Schwartz said. "We'll just see Sunday where they all get to. He's no different than anybody else."

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