Report: Lions willing to trade CB Alphonso Smith

The Lions are willing to trade cornerback Alphonso Smith and have shopped him to at least one team, according to a report by NFL.com writer Jason La Canfora.

Smith was a second-round draft pick by the Broncos in 2009 and was traded to the Lions in 2010 for tight end Dan Gronkoswki.

Smith played in 11 games with three interceptions last season as the team’s fourth cornerback behind starters Chris Houston and Eric Wright and nickel corner Aaron Berry.

Smith has one year remaining on his contract.

Injury report: Lions healthy and ready to roll

The Lions head into their first playoff game in 12 years, Saturday against the Saints, the healthiest they’ve been in more than a month.

Friday’s injury report list’s only safety Chris Harris (back) as doubtful for Saturday night’s game in New Orleans.

Safety Louis Delmas, who hasn’t played since Thanksgiving with a right knee injury, is listed as probable. Delmas practiced all week for the first time since hurting the knee six weeks ago.

Also probable for the Lions are: defensive end Cliff Arvil (back), corner Aaron Berry (shoulder), defensive tackle Nick Fairley (foot), corner Chris Houston (knee/hand), receiver Calvin Johnson (Achilles), corner Alphonso Smith (foot), running back Kevin Smith (ankle/knee) defensive tackle Corey Williams (hip) and defensive end Willie Young (ankle).

The Lions should have all 11 starters on defense for the game.

That includes Williams, who missed last week’s game in Green Bay, and Berry, who hasn’t played since Dec. 11 against the Vikings.

It’s a good time for the Lions to be healthy.

Still no Louis Delmas at Lions practice

Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Monday that all of his 53 players would be “in the mix to play this week” when the Chargers come to Ford Field on Saturday.

That means none of the injuries the Lions are dealing with are long-term.

However, there were still a number of players missing from Tuesday’s first practice of the week.

Safety Louis Delmas, who had arthroscopic knee surgery on Saturday, did not practice.

Delmas didn’t travel to Oakland and hasn’t played since hurting the knee against the Packers on Thanksgiving.

Also not participating in the portion of practice open to the media were: defensive tackle Corey Williams, safety Chris Harris, corner Don Carey and long snapper Don Muhlbach.

Corner Aaron Berry practiced for the first time since separating his right shoulder against the Vikings Dec. 11 and to part in individual drills.

Berry still looks to be favoring that right shoulder some, though.

Corner Chris Houston, who started against Oakland Sunday but was replaced by Alphonso Smith, was participating in practice.

Defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch got his usual day of rest to begin the workweek.

Fellow defensive end Lawrence Jackson took part in his second practice since suffering a thigh bruise against the Bears back in November.

Running back Kevin Smith (high ankle sprain) practiced and looked fine.

There will be no official injury report released by the team today.

Lions expect all 53 players to be “in the mix” for Chargers

It’s Week 16 in the NFL and every team is dealing with injuries – Lions included.

But coach Jim Schwartz gave a bit of positive news on that front during his Monday press conference with the media.

“I think that we’ll probably have everybody on our 53 will be in the mix this week,” he said.

“Whether or not they’ll play or not, still way too early to tell, but I think everybody’s going to be at least into consideration – at least in the mix.”

Schwartz said that included safety Louis Delmas, who had minor knee surgery Saturday to clean up a sprain suffered against the Packers on Thanksgiving.

“I mean it’s too early to tell there, but there’s a possibility,” he said.

Corner Chris Houston started Sunday in Oakland for the first time since also spraining a knee on Thanksgiving, but was replaced by Alphonso Smith when he had a hard time coming out of breaks and defending receivers.

Schwartz gave no update on safety Chris Harris, who was evaluated for a concussion early against the Raiders Sunday and did not return.

Corner Eric Wright and linebacker Justin Durant made it through the game with hamstring injuries. Both didn’t practice for the first time last week until Friday.

“Let’s not give out any Purple Hearts or anything.,” Schwartz said of Wright and Durant. “They’re professional football players and they were able to play and they did.”

Running back Kevin Smith made it through the game on that injured ankle, too.

Best, Vanden Bosch among players ruled out for Saturday’s game

The Lions have announced which players have been ruled out for Saturday’s preseason game against New England:

• RB Jahvid Best
• DT Nick Fairley
• T Jason Fox
• RB Maurice Morris
• DE Kyle Vanden Bosch
• CB Alphonso Smith

Notable game-time decisions include wide receiver Calvin Johnson and rookie wide receiver Titus Young.

Lions Trade TE Gronkowski for CB Smith

The Detroit Lions have officially confirmed the trade of TE Dan Gronkowki to the Denver Broncos in exchange for CB Alphonso Smith.

Both players are in their second NFL season. Smith played in 15 games with the Broncos last year with zero starts, finishing the year with nine total tackles.

He was originally drafted in 2009 by the Broncos in the second round (37th overall) out of Wake Forest.