Detroit Lions fans chant for Jared Goff against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Detroit Lions fans chant for the team and quarterback Jared Goff during the team's road game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025.
Taylor Decker could miss more time with a shoulder injury that has plagued him all season. If he does this, then Detroit Lions will likely not use Penei Sewell as a replacement.
Lions Coach Dan Campbell said the organization has talked about moving Sewell from right tackle to left tackle if Decker faces an extended absence, but said it might not be in the line's best interest.
“He's going to go there and do a great job,” Campbell said Wednesday. “It's really about, if not Decker, it's about the other guys and where they're most comfortable? And then Sewell will by default walk away from that because he can do it all.”
A two-time first-team All-Pro at right tackle, Sewell has filled in for Decker at left tackle in the past.
He started the first eight games of his career at left tackle and became youngest player in NFL history to start a game at that position after Decker suffered a spiral fracture to his finger days before the 2021 season opener. Two years later, he made two more starts at the position when Decker was sidelined with an ankle injury.
Decker was subjected to off-season shoulder surgery and suffered another injury to the same shoulder in the preseason.
He started the first four games in limited practice, but the Lions (4-1) kept him from winning last week. Cincinnati Bengals in an attempt to keep him healthy until the end of the season.
Gio Manu, a fourth-round pick last year, made his first career start at left tackle in place of Decker against the Bengals and received mixed reviews for his play. He allowed two sacks and fumbled on several other pass protection blocks, but played well as a blocker.
Campbell said after the Bengals game that he wasn't sure if the Lions would give Decker more rest in the coming weeks, and that Manu, Dan Skipper and the practice squad would take on Devin Cochran, all of whom are candidates to play in his absence.
The Lions signed Skipper, their swing tackle last season. from practice squad to 53-man roster on Wednesday. Skper missed the start of the season due to a knee injury.
If Sewell has to make a short-term position change, Campbell said the Lions would have to let him play left tackle in practice.
“We talked about using Sewell,” Campbell said. “I don’t want to say it’s not being discussed, but to be honest, it’s probably not the first thought.”
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him further bluesky, X And Instagram at @davebirkett.
