Don't count Golden Tate out of Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers yet.
Tate was a surprise participant in Detroit Lions practice Wednesday, less than two weeks after he suffered a shoulder injury in the second half of a loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Tate ran routes and caught passes during the individual portion of practice, even going high to catch one ball.
Last week, Tate posted a video of himself on Instagram with his right arm in a sling, and he sat out the team's first practice after the bye on Monday.
The Lions promoted Jace Billingsley from the practice squad to the active roster Wednesday on the chance they'll need him this week against the Steelers.
Tate leads the Lions with 36 catches for 363 yards through six games, and has topped 90 catches each of the past three years.
"We're still really early in the week so not sure (if he'll play)," Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford said. "But any time guys are out of the lineup, you got to have other guys step up. And hopefully he's feeling great on Sunday and ready to roll."
The Lions are expected to get rookie Kenny Golladay back on Sunday, but Marvin Jones and TJ Jones could see expanded roles in Tate's absence.
Left tackle Greg Robinson and backup guard Emmett Cleary were the only Lions who did not practice Wednesday, both missing time because of ankle injuries.
Brian Mihalik, who the Lions claimed off waivers from the Steelers in September, likely would start at left tackle if Robinson can't play.
"I'm not really thinking about that in terms of they're my old team or anything like that," Mihalik said. "It's another team and it's another game, just as an offense and as a team we've got to do whatever we can to go out and get a win."
