Chris McCosky/ The Detroit News
Allen Park— Five of the six Lions starters who missed practice on Wednesday returned Thursday.
Tight end Brandon Pettigrew is the only one still sidelined. He is nursing a sore shoulder, which coach Jim Schwartz characterized as “in-season bumps and bruises.” At this point, he is expected to play Sunday in Minnesota.
Receiver Calvin Johnson (ankle), linebacker DeAndre Levy (knee), safety Louis Delmas (hip) and defensive ends Cliff Avril (knee) and Kyle Vanden Bosch (rest) were back on the practice field.
Still not practicing are receiver Rashied Davis (hamstring), offensive tackle Jason Fox (foot) and defensive tackle Nick Fairley (foot).
Receiver Maurice Stovall is still limited by a hand injury. He is still not working in on the special-teams drills, so there is a good chance he will be inactive again on Sunday.
Right tackle Gosder Cherilus was, for the second straight day, taking reps with the first team offense.