DE Cliff Avril told reporters Thursday that while he was pleased with his progress since returning from a nine-day holdout on Aug. 5, he didn't feel the need to play in the preseason opener.

He got his wish Friday when the Lions released a list of players who will not play against Cleveland at Ford Field.

Avril is the only player on what is the preseason version of an inactive list who isn't suffering from an injury. If he remains healthy, Avril should face Baltimore on Aug. 17.

Other Lions declared out against Cleveland:

  • RB Jahvid Best (Active/PUP): Best still hasn't cleared concussion testing, and coach Jim Schwartz said the team is evaluating him on a weekly -- not daily -- basis. Until he gets clearance, Best is a nonfactor.
  • WR Ryan Broyles (knee): Broyles has seen limited reps in drills, but the team is still being very cautious. He has struggled with bouts of swelling in his surgically-repaired knee. The Lions' WR depth gives them the flexibility to rest him without impacting the game plan.
  • S Don Carey (undisclosed): Carey's injury is something of a mystery. Schwartz has classified his injury as “soreness,” but that classification can have a variety of meanings. His absence further complicates Detroit's secondary depth issues.
  • CB Louis Delmas (knee): Delmas is out indefinitely following knee surgery. Without him, the defensive backfield simply isn't the same. His intensity offers an intangible no other Lions' DB can match.
  • CB Chris Greenwood (Active/PUP): The fifth-round draft pick hasn't participated in camp since undergoing offseason abdominal surgery. Greenwood came from a small college, so it's impossible to gauge his value until he's healthy enough to compete against NFL talent.
  • RB Mikel Leshoure (hamstring): Leshoure said he expects to return to practice next week. CBSSports.com's fantasy football expert Dave Richard has taken to charting a daily “Leshoure Out of Practice O-meter” on his Twitter feed as fans track the second-year back's progress. For the record, Leshoure's absence Friday sets that meter at 13 days.
  • DT Sammie Hill (back): Hill's roster spot is secure, so there's no reason to push him back to action as he battles back spasms. His absence could give DTs Andre Fluellen and Tracy Robertson a chance to get the reps needed to insert themselves back in the roster conversation.
  • T Jonathan Scott (knee): Scott's long absence from drills doesn't impact Detroit's game plan, but it may make it difficult for him to make the roster. If he doesn't return soon, he could become a victim of the numbers game at the first roster cut deadline.
  • DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (soreness): Vanden Bosch is likely being held out simply to rest his aging body. He's a leader, and completely understands the system. There's no reason to subject him to possible injury.

Follow Lions reporter John Kreger on Twitter at @CBSSportsNFLDET and @JohnKreger.