ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions join the Jacksonville Jaguars as the only winless teams left in the NFL. Not what they wanted of course, but certainly not unexpected either in these very early days of a multi-year rebuild.
They were expected to lose a lot -- or if you’re Vegas, expected to lose every single week -- while developing their foundational pieces for a run in 2022 or, more likely, 2023.
Problem is they’ve lost many of those foundational pieces as well.
Tight end T.J. Hockenson and offensive tackle Penei Sewell (ankle) were not practicing during the 20 minutes that were available to reporters on Wednesday, leaving the Lions without any of their first-round picks as preparations began for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Injuries are a way of life in the NFL, and everyone has them. But even by that standard, this is some stunning attrition. A look at what’s up with Detroit’s first-round picks going back to the selection of Taylor Decker, the club’s longest-tenured player:
Penei Sewell: Hurt
Jeff Okudah: IR
T.J. Hockenson: Hurt
Frank Ragnow: IR
Jarrad Davis: Bust who walked in free agency
Taylor Decker: IR
The losses are difficult to watch, although for a team that was expected to lose anyway, it’s fair to say the bigger concern is all the injuries that are robbing Dan Campbell of opportunities to develop the culture and foundation of the new regime. He shrugged off those concerns before practice on Wednesday.
“I don’t think it’s a big setback because, there again, look, (Derrick) Barnes is still coming along,” Campbell seaid. “(Alim) McNeill’s coming along, Levi (Onwuzurike), he’s got to get better, but he’s continuing to grow. Jerry Jacobs is going to continue to grow. Bobby (Price)’s still going to be able to grow and help us in other areas. Sewell, there again, we’ll see where he’s at, but I feel like we still have enough young guys that we are developing.
“I don’t feel like it’s a setback. I mean, we’ve still got plenty of young bucks that are out there, that are helping us, contributing, and that are growing every time they get to play and the reps they are getting.”
Sure, sort of. There are young players on the field Detroit is trying to develop. On the other hand, some of the young players they’ve invested the most in, and have the most riding on, are already on the shelf. Hockenson is the best skill player left in Detroit. Okudah is a young, struggling cornerback who needs to polish his game with reps.
Nowhere is this more true than on the offensive line, where the regime just used its most valuable resource -- the seventh overall pick in the draft -- to add Sewell to a lineup that already featured fellow first-round picks like Decker and Ragnow. Now four games into the season, all three are hurt. Decker (finger) and Ragnow (toe) are on injured reserve, while Sewell isn’t practicing due to an ankle injury, robbing the youngest starting left tackle in NFL history of opportunities to develop his game.
“I know he’s trying to get back as fast as he can,” offensive line coach Hank Fraley said. “Everyone comes back at different speeds with what he’s got. We’ll figure it out by the end. We’ve got a few guys that can play that position if he’s out.”
Ad Choices