LaPorta, Gibbs, Jackson, Branch, Ragnow Miss Thursday Practice

Lions Week 6 Thursday practice report.

The Detroit Lions returned to the practice field Thursday after getting their first look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense. 

Those not spotted at the portion of practice open to the media include Zonovan Knight, Sam LaPorta, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow, Brian Branch and Emmanuel Moseley. 

LaPorta was not on the injury report Wednesday. More information will be revealed regarding why the talented tight end missed practice around 4 p.m. 

Three players were working with trainers, including Jahmyr Gibbs, Josh Paschal and James Mitchell. 

With Detroit's secondary dealing with a couple of injuries, Aaron Glenn has options to choose from in the defensive backfield rotation. 

Steven Gilmore and Khalil Dorsey are young players developing that have the potential to aid the defense in the near future. 

Gilmore, 24, has the potential to emerge as a solid contributor and has high expectations from the coaching staff. 

“We’ll see. He’s a part of the plan we have," Glenn said. "We call him "Gilly Lock." He has lockdown potential. Has some of that from his brother. I guess you can say that. He’s a good one to have. We’re excited about the player and at some point he’ll be on the field helping us.” 

Dorsey has been on injured reserve since Week 2 and had his 21-day return-to-play clock started Wednesday. He will be a factor on Detroit's special teams units upon re-entering the fold.

"Obviously, Dorsey did a great job for us in that first game. He was out there against Kansas City and really played in all four phases in that game," special teams coach Dave Fipp explained to reporters prior to practice. "I think the first step is getting him back on the practice field, he's been working out without us the last handful of weeks but getting him back out there and just seeing how it goes. Hopefully it progresses to the point where he can play, but we'll see how the week goes, I guess."