JUST IN: Lions HC Dan Campbell Reveals Plan After Starting OL Ruled Out

When the Detroit Lions take on the Chicago Bears on November 19, the offensive line will face another “next man up” situation.

After returning after a three-week hiatus to start against the Los Angeles Chargers on November 12, guard Jonah Jackson injured his wrist and was declared out of the team’s November 19 game against the Bears.

The Lions’ offensive line is in a familiar situation.
Campbell told reporters on Friday that either Kayode Awosika or Colby Sorsdal will have to step up and start at right guard. Both have started this season, and Campbell stated that either would be content to do so again.

“A lot of ease. “Those guys have done their homework, they’ve played with the other guys,” Campbell told SI.com. “We have some guys who can play over there, like Yode, Sorsdal, and Skip (Dan Skipper).” So we have possibilities here.”

Jackson, a Pro Bowler at the age of 26, has only played in six games this season. According to DetroitLions.com reporter Tim Twentyman, the Lions have suffered a number of offensive line injuries.

“So once again the Lions will have to shuffle up their combinations up front, which unfortunately has become the norm in Detroit this season,” he wrote. “They started seven different players in seven of their first eight games before reuniting their top five of Taylor Decker, Jackson, Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow, and Penei Sewell last week.” In the Lions’ 41-38 win over the Chargers last week, that combination helped record 325 net passing yards and 200 rushing yards for the first time in franchise history.”

Other Injuries Affecting the Lions
The Lions suffered another loss this week, as veteran guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai was placed on injured reserve after re-aggravating the back issue that had previously ruled him out for the entire 2022 season.

According to Jeff Risdon of USA Today’s Lions Wire, the injury will terminate Vaitai’s tenure with the Lions and may mark the end of his career.

Nathan Dougherty is a Heavy.com sports reporter who covers the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions. He formerly worked as an assistant editor for the Rochester Business Journal and as a writer for the athletic trade publications Coaching Management, Athletic Management, and Training & Conditioning. He is from Rochester, New York, and he is passionate about football. More information on Nathan Dougherty