James Ihedigbo

No word yet on whether starting safety James Ihedigbo will be available for Detroit's opening game versus the Giants.

(AP Photo)

UPDATE: Detroit Lions safety James Ihedigbo refutes idea of injury, insists 'I'm just resting'

ALLEN PARK -- The status of Detroit strong safety James Ihedigbo remains unclear just one week from the Lions regular-season opener against the New York Giants.

Ihedigbo -- one of the team's key free-agent signings this offseason -- first missed the Lions' preseason game against Jacksonville back on Aug. 22. The Lions originally explained his absence as simply veteran's rest.

When Ihedigbo didn't make the trip to Buffalo with the team this past Thursday, head coach Jim Caldwell alluded to an injury.

"We felt like he could get treatment a little better at home than he could here," Caldwell said after the game. "Keep him off the plane, just making sure he's getting the treatment he needs."

Monday, at Caldwell's weekly presser, he was asked whether Ihedigbo would be available for Monday's game versus the Giants. Caldwell did not want to talk about it specifically, instead pointing out that the team's depth chart would be released later.

The depth chart, released around 3 p.m., did list Ihedigbo as the starting strong safety, although the veteran was not a participant at practice. Should Ihedigbo not be available for the Giants game, undrafted rookie free agent Jerome Couplin would be looking at a story-book start to his NFL career.

Also absent from Monday's practice was linebacker Kyle Van Noy (abdominal), wide receiver TJ Jones (nerve pain) and free safety Don Carey (hamstring).

The injuries to both Ihedigbo and Carey put added stress on a thin safety group that included just Couplin, Glover Quin and Isa Abdul-Quddus at Allen Park on Monday.

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