Detroit Lions LB Devin White closing in on return from broken forearm

The Detroit Lions could be getting some reinforcements back at the linebacker position soon. Devin White, who broke his right forearm in the Lions ’ Week 5 win over the Arizona Cardinals , is scheduled to have updated imaging on his arm next week and told the Free Press he could play again as soon as this month. “We’re ramping it up now, so I think it’s just roll with it right now and whenever they feel like I’m ready – mentally I’m going to be ready, so it’s just whenever physically I’m able to perform at the level they want me to, I’ll be ready,” he said. “I’m going headfirst.” The Lions lost linebackers Jack Campbell (neck) and Jimmy Rolder (hamstring) to serious injuries last week and shuffled personnel at the position in recent days. Malcolm Rodriguez and Trevor Nowaske are expected to join Derrick Barnes in the starting lineup for this week’s game against the Miami Dolphin., Barnes will handle the green-dot defensive communication responsibilities in Campbell’s absence, and the Lions promoted Joe Bachie from the practice squad, signed K.J. Britt off the New England Patriots practice squad and added Owen Pappoe to the practice squad. RELATED: Lions players breathe 'sigh of relief' at latest Jack Campbell update White, a one-time Pro Bowler with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who signed with the Lions in training camp, played as a rotational third linebacker the first five weeks of the season. He had three tackles in 18 snaps in a Week 1 win over the New Orleans Saints, played a season-high 33 snaps in a Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills, then was out of the lineup the next two weeks before returning to play 16 snaps against the Cardinals before he was injured on a friendly-fire play from teammate Chuck Clark. “It’s crazy, man,” White said. “I get all the way to Year 8 and first time ever being on IR. And stuff was going good, but I mean, just a good mindset to get back.” Asked if he was bummed he wouldn’t be able to play against his old team the Buccaneers later this month, White said, “I hope I do [get to play against them].” “I don’t know [if I’ll be back by then], but I hope,” he said. After this week’s game against the Dolphins, the Lions travel to Germany to play the New England Patriots, host the Bucs the following week on Nov. 22 and play the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving. “I’m doing really good on my way back,” White said. “I think mentally being away from the game, it makes you love it even more and appreciate even more. So I think me coming back is going to feel real good, and I’m just thankful that I will have an opportunity to come back and help this team because I feel like this team has a great window as far as doing some major things. And I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but it’s a great team, one of the greatest offenses I’ve been around, and defense, all we got to do is just limit people to under 19 and we got a great shot of winning ball games.” Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at  dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on  Bluesky ,  X  and  Instagram  at @davebirkett.