ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions are playing it safe with veteran left tackle Taylor Decker’s foot at Organized Team Activities. Decker didn’t participate in Thursday’s OTA session open to reporters.
He suffered the injury during the team’s season-ending win against the Green Bay Packers. Lions coach Dan Campbell said the issue Decker is dealing with is in the same area. But that it’s not the same injury. Decker clarified he’s feeling some residual effects from rehabbing all offseason.
Campbell did his best to dispel any lingering concerns, saying: “if he had to play right now, he could play.” Decker echoed his head coach, pointing to the goal of not letting the injury linger.
“I’ve said it before with other issues I’ve had, when you’re not out there, it’s nauseating,” Decker said. “Of course, I want to be out there. It’s just kind of a be smart, maintenance thing. I’m talking with the training staff and the coaches right now. So hopefully, come time for camp, it’s ‘No issues, hit the ground running, you’re good to go.’ And that’s the game plan, and that’s what it’s trending towards. If there was a game, 100 percent I would play.
“Basically, the opinion I got was it’s something that’s going to get better. It’s just kind of a pain in the ass that will take a little time. Just being smart about it right now. Like I said, when it comes time to the bullets are flying, and we’ve got to really play, it’s not even a thought.”
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Time is on Decker and Detroit’s side, with training camp still a couple of months away. And it makes sense for the team to take it slow with the starting left tackle after failing to get their projected starting five on the field at the same time last season.
Decker missed eight games last year with a finger injury, then had his return delayed after a setback. Once he returned, though? The veteran put any concerns or thoughts of moving him out of the way for Penei Sewell to bed in a hurry. Pro Football Focus ranked Decker sixth among all tackles with enough snaps in pass protection.
There is growing national optimism concerning the Lions. A great deal of that Kool-Aid chugging has to do with the projected starting offensive line of Decker, guard Jonah Jackson, center Frank Ragnow, guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai and the blossoming second-year tackle Sewell.
Ragnow, one of the top centers in the league, went down with a season-ending toe injury after four games. Jackson won the heart of the coaching staff and has the team thinking big things in Year 3. Vaitai was not only more available in his second season around these parts. But he was also much improved. Sewell was one of the best rookies in the game, finishing with an impressive run to end the campaign.
Decker credited Sewell for his great play down the stretch, saying the young offensive tackle looks “significantly stronger” in the weight room.
“I would say this is the most talented line I’ve been a part of, 100%. I’m not necessarily a talent evaluator, but we’ve just got a bunch of guys that are smart, confident, athletic,” Decker said. “We can get out and run a bunch of guys on the perimeter, or we can run downhill–one-back power, two-back power, duo, whatever it may be. We’ve got guys that can just do a lot of things.
“I think our room is a very confident room, talented room, and we all just get along very well. Our camaraderie and cohesiveness as a group is off the charts. It’s incredible. So I’m really excited to see what we can do as a group, and I think he’s going to have an awesome year.”
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