The Detroit Lions wrapped off their final full practice of training camp with an intra-squad scrimmage Wednesday, providing some good-on-good work for their starters who are unlikely to participate in Saturday’s preseason finale.
It was a raucous session, complete with big hits, big plays, and fake crowd noise, until Penei Sewell was sidelined with a foot injury.
“When Penei went down, I was like, ‘Ah, not Penei,’ because you know, shoot, that’s our No. 1 offensive lineman right there,” Lions safety Brian Branch admitted. “Hopefully, it wasn’t something major. I don’t think it was, so keep your prayers up.”
Sewell was injured on the third play following the Lions’ return from the locker room and simulated intermission. He sat on the ground shortly after blocking a Jared Goff incompletion downfield and was treated by trainers before staggering to a bench on the sidelines.
He took off his shoes and socks as trainers checked his left foot. After a few plays, Sewell hobbled to the locker room on his own, accompanied by a trainer.
The Lions said the All-Pro right tackle was being evaluated for a foot injury.
“A guy like Penei, you’re always worried about him, but that’s the reality of this league,” said second-year lineman Colby Sorsdal, who took over for Sewell on the first-team offense. “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 you’re number’s called you just got to go.”
Sewell, 23, is one of the Lions’ most valuable players, having started 50 of 51 potential games at both left and right tackle over the last three seasons. He has played every offensive snap for the past two years, has made two consecutive Pro Bowls, and signed a four-year, $112 million extension this offseason, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in football.
The Lions have been cautious about injuries throughout summer, and Lions coach Dan Campbell stated Tuesday that most of his players will be ready for the team’s season opener against the Los Angeles Rams on September 8.
Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring), Sam LaPorta (hamstring), Kevin Zeitler (shoulder), Terrion Arnold (chest), and backup tackle Dan Skipper (ankle) all missed practice on Wednesday. Running back Craig Reynolds also exited Wednesday’s practice with what the Lions described as a lower-body ailment.