The Detroit Lions aren’t revealing much when it comes to Penei Sewell’s condition or his chances of playing in Week 10.
Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings may have been more costly than the scoreboard showed, as Detroit’s offensive line took several hits. Taylor Decker and Sewell are both battling minor injuries, while rookie Christian Mahogany could be facing a longer recovery.
Losing Sewell would be a major setback for offensive coordinator John Morton. The All-Pro right tackle reportedly sustained an upper-body injury and was seen unable to move his left arm following the 27-24 defeat.
Dan Campbell Offers Cautious Optimism
Head coach Dan Campbell didn’t provide much clarity when asked about the star lineman’s health. As reported by Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit, Campbell said both Decker and Sewell’s situations “seemed a little more positive,” though he remains uncertain about their Week 10 availability against Washington.
While the update didn’t reveal much, it did hint at some progress compared to Campbell’s earlier tone. There’s at least a chance the pair could participate in practice this week. Campbell told The Detroit News:
“Nothing new, other than nothing sounds long-term, which is good. It’s good news. I think it’s more about whether they’ll be able to practice this week and play this week. But nothing beyond that right now.”
Sewell has been elite this season, earning the league’s top Pro Football Focus grade (95.7) among right tackles. He also leads all linemen in run blocking (97.4) and ranks 12th in pass protection (78.1).
Detroit Faces Offensive Line Concerns
Next up, the Lions travel to face the Washington Commanders — a team now without Jayden Daniels. Detroit’s defense should be able to handle Marcus Mariota’s offense, but the real challenge lies in keeping Jared Goff protected behind an injury-depleted line.
If either Sewell or Decker can’t go, veteran Dan Skipper is expected to step in. However, Detroit’s depth in the trenches will be under serious pressure if both starters are sidelined. The good news is that neither player appears to be dealing with a long-term issue, suggesting they could return within the next couple of weeks.
