Tigers Injury Update: 5 rehabbing players making progress, good news on Reese Olson

Since Kerry Carpenter came off the IL and the Tigers added some new arms at the trade deadline, they've been mostly free of devastating injuries to the roster. Reese Olson was declared as out for the rest of the regular season with a shoulder injury, but the Tigers had already been working behind the scenes to acquire Chris Paddack. Parker Meadows went down with a quad strain, but Carpenter was already back to cover the outfield.

However, the Tigers will still want to get some of depth back through the rest of the season and going into the playoffs. Alex Cobb, José Urquidy, and Alex Lange haven't pitched all year and have been afterthoughts on the roster, but all are making progress in rehab assignments. Sawyer Gipson-Long, who started the year on the IL, pitched in five games, and then went back onto the IL, is also rehabbing.

Alex Cobb, Jose Urquidy, Alex Lange, Sawyer Gipson-Long rehab assignments

Cobb is in High-A West Michigan and made the second start of his rehab assignment on Sunday, throwing 38 pitches. Urquidy also pitched that day in his first start in Low-A Lakeland; he only faced three batters but needed just 10 pitches to retire the side.

Cobb and Urquidy have been the biggest wild cards this season, but if they don't experience setbacks in their assignments, both should be with the major league team by early Sept.

Gipson-Long restarted a rehab assignment after a hiccup and threw three perfect innings in Triple-A on Friday. Lange, who hasn't pitched since May 22 of last year, also restarted his rehab and pitched 2/3 innings on Saturday, but he's struggled so far and is posting a 6.75 ERA in 11 appearances.

Parker Meadows nearing a rehab assignment

Meadows has yet to begin a rehab assignment and still has "boxes to check," but AJ Hinch said, "he's feeling better and better, which is great. The throwing has been great. He's swung the bat a little bit. Generally, the ramp-up is now starting."

He was running on the field at Comerica ahead of the Tigers' series opener against the Twins.

Reese Olson's shoulder injury won't require surgery

Olson was ruled out for the rest of the regular season right after the Tigers had acquired Paddack from the Twins. This is his second straight season dealing with a shoulder injury that's required a significant amount of time on the IL, but Olson's getting lucky again and won't need surgery. He'll be able to contribute "at some point in October," but it's really feeling like his July 24 start against the Blue Jays will be his last outing of the year.