The Detroit Lions waited close to a month to get starting left tackle Taylor Decker back on the field after he dealt with a nagging shoulder injury, but it appeared they may have lost him again after just one game back.
Decker aggravated his shoulder in the team’s Oct. 20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leaving him with an uncertain status for the upcoming game. Head coach Dan Campbell had a bit of good news this week, raising hopes that Decker won’t have to miss any more time.
Taylor Decker Returning to Practice
Speaking to reporters, Campbell explained that Decker would miss practice on Tuesday but would be back on the field before the end of the week.
âI see him practicing [Thursday], not today. He did yesterday, but I donât see him practicing today,â Campbell said on Tuesday, via SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit.
Decker had been dealing with shoulder pains for much of the season, getting knocked out after the team’s Sept. 28 win over the Cleveland Browns and not returning until the game against the Buccaneers on Oct. 20.
The return wasn’t so smooth, with Decker telling reporters after the game that he aggravated the injury.
âNot great,” Decker told the Detroit Free Press when asked how he felt after the game.
Decker was able to play all 68 offensive snaps in the win over the Buccaneers, then the top team in the NFC, but the left tackle gave up a sack that led to a Jared Goff fumble. While Decker played well otherwise, Campbell said the veteran lineman was frustrated by the mistake.
“Heâs a perfectionist,” Campbell said, via the Detroit Free Press. “Heâs a prideful guy and he wants to know he can play his best kind of football and it can get frustrating when you know youâre not 100%.
“And so I understand what that is but â and like I tell him, you help us though, you elevate us. And I just appreciate the fact heâs out there trying to get it done and hopefully we can get it to calm down and good news is I think thereâs still some strength in it, but the guyâs a stud, man. He is.”
Decker had the benefit of the bye week to get some extra recovery time, and his status for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings will become clearer by the end of the week.
More Injury News for the Lions
The Lions could get another big return this week as running back and special teams mainstay Sione Vaki is expected to practice the entire week. He has missed the last four games with a groin injury, but could be close to returning this week.
âVaki practiced yesterday. Heâs going to practice today. Heâs going to practice Thursday after the day off,â Campbell said. âSo weâre hopeful. He looked good. He looks good right now, and hopefully we can get him to the game. Thatâs the plan.â
The Lions are also moving closer to getting defensive lineman Marcus Davenport back after suffering a Week 2 chest injury, but Campbell said he would remain on IR for at least a little longer.
âHe is improving, but I canât give you a definitive âthis is when heâs going to be back.â Iâm just very confident he is going to be back. Weâre going to get him back here,â Campbell said.
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