The Detroit Lions are looking solid going into the upcoming season, but a key player suffered an injury on August 21, the last day of training camp.
Lions right tackle Penei Sewell, an All-Pro in 2023, was forced to leave practice after suffering an injury to his left foot, the team said on August 21.
Hours later, Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network reported potentially positive news for Lions fans.
“Got a simple, but encouraging update on Sewell from a team source. ‘He’s good,'” Rogers tweeted on the evening of August 21.
How Penei Sewell’s Injury Went Down
The injury occurred as Detroit was nearing the end of its final training camp practice — a first-team scrimmage — before the team’s preseason finale August 24 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“After a second-down pass play — a deep shot intended for tight end Brock Wright — Sewell remained on the ground, requiring attention from the team’s training staff,” Rogers wrote. “He eventually got to his feet and hobbled to the sideline, where his shoe was removed for a closer look at the injury.”
Rogers also tweeted that “trainers took off [Sewell’s] shoe and were checking his ankle and foot before he walked – slowly but without assistance – (to) the locker room for further testing.”
Sewell “is one of the most irreplaceable Lions,” according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
Entering his fourth season, Sewell, 23, has missed only one game and started every offensive snap in 2022 and 2023. He led the league with 1,178 snaps last season and allowed only 1 sack. The Lions rewarded him with a four-year, $112 million extension this year, making him the highest-paid offensive tackle in football.
Sewell’s overall PFF grade last season was 90.7, and he closed out the season with a 93.1 run-blocking grade. He was PFF’s top-rated offensive tackle.
In June 2024, Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley compared Sewell to Hall of Famer Joe Thomas, according to a Detroit Free Press story.
Penei Sewell Would Be Difficult to Replace
Colby Sorsdal replaced the right tackle for the rest of practice, according to Rogers. But replacing him long term would be difficult because the Lions are relying on Sewell to be a key part of their offensive line.
Sorsdal, a second-year lineman from William & Mary, is in the running with Dan Skipper to be the main backup to Sewell and left tackle Taylor Decker. Skipper is also injured, out with an ankle injury, but is expected to be back at practice the week of August 26.
“A guy like Penei, you’re always just worried about him but that’s the reality of this league, too,” Sorsdal told reporters after practice, according to Birkett. “No one’s God out there and as much as we want Penei to be God …. anything can happen at any given time so when your number’s called you just got to go.”
The Lions didn’t share any news on the severity of the injury, and head coach Dan Campbell said he wouldn’t be meeting with the media until after Saturday’s preseason game.
The Lions open their regular season September 8 at home against the Los Angeles Rams.
