LT Taylor Decker will make season debut for Detroit Lions; WR Josh Reynolds out

Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) during player introductions prior to an NFL football game against Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Images/Rick Osentoski)
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PITTSBURGH -- Taylor Decker is officially back.

The Detroit Lions activated their left tackle for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, providing Jared Goff with some timely protection against one of the league’s best defenses. Decker is expected to make his season debut at left tackle, while promising rookie Penei Sewell will make his career debut at right tackle.

Decker missed the first eight games of the season with a finger injury he suffered in the days leading up to the opener against San Francisco, dealing an immediate blow to an offensive front that once was expected to be among the league’s best. And with star center Frank Ragnow out with a toe injury until next season, Detroit never will get a chance to look at that unit at full strength.

But Decker’s return is a step in the right direction. He’s been good for a long time, before turning in a near-elite season last year. He didn’t allow a sack in 15 games and ranked among the top 11 tackles -- left and right -- according to ProFootballFocus.

Without him, the Lions were forced to move Sewell to left tackle and then insert Matt Nelson into the starting lineup on the right side. In the first eight weeks of the season, there wasn’t an offensive lineman who allowed more pressures than Nelson.

So while Ragnow remains sidelined, this is a big step in the right direction for an offense that could badly, badly use it.

The Lions will still be shorthanded on offense though, where starting running back Jamaal Williams was scratched on Friday and then new receiver Josh Reynolds joined him on Sunday. Reynolds was claimed off waivers from Tennessee last week and projects to start whenever he’s ready to go.

The rest of Detroit’s inactives: Edge defender Austin Bryant, defensive end Kevin Strong and outside linebacker Jessie Lemonier.

Pittsburgh, meantime, will be without Ben Roethlisberger after the quarterback tested positive for COVID over the weekend. Mason Rudolph will start for him under center, his first start of the season and just his second since 2019.

The rest of the Steelers’ inactives: Receiver Chase Claypool, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, running back Anthony McFarland Jr., linebacker Buddy Johnson and offensive lineman B.J. Finney.

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