For the first time since October 26, Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley was a practice participant and worked with the first team in Thursday’s workout at Allen Park, Mich.

Fairley was not placed on injured reserve with what coach Jim Caldwell continued to refer to as a “significant” knee injury.

Fairley forms a fearsome interior tandem alongside Ndamukong Suh, who was cleared to play Sunday at Dallas after winning the appeal of his one-game suspension for standing on the leg of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Fairley practiced Thursday with the starters, ahead of C.J. Moseley, but Caldwell would not commit to Fairley being a starter after missing nine weeks.