When the Detroit Lions play the Chicago Bears on November 19, the offensive line will have to perform as the “next man up” once again.
Jonah Jackson, a guard, went back to the injured list on November 12 after returning after a three-week absence to start the team’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers. He was declared out of the team’s game against the Bears on November 19.
Speaking candidly about the loss this week, head coach Dan Campbell said the line has struggled with injuries all season and is prepared to play again on Sunday.
Speaking with reporters on Friday, Campbell stated that Colby Sorsdal or Kayode Awosika will have to start at right guard. Campbell stated that both of them would feel at ease starting again this season.
“Very comfortable. According to SI.com, Campbell remarked, “Those guys have time on task and have played with the other guys.” “There are guys over there who can play: Yode, Sorsdal, and Skip (Dan Skipper).” So, here, we have several possibilities.
The 26-year-old Pro Bowl player Jackson has only played in six games so far this year. Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com reported that the offensive line has suffered several injuries for the Lions.
Twentyman stated, “So the Lions will have to shuffle up their combinations up front once again, which has unfortunately become the norm in Detroit this season.” Before ultimately reuniting with their starting five of Taylor Decker, Jackson, Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow, and Penei Sewell last week, they had seven different starting lineups in seven of their first eight games. In the Lions’ 41-38 victory over the Chargers last week, the combo assisted in generating 325 net passing yards and 200 running yards for the first time in team history.
This week, the Lions suffered yet another blow when veteran lineman Halapoulivaati Vaitai was placed on injured reserve due to a recurrence of the back issue that ended his 2022 campaign.
According to Jeff Risdon of USA Today’s Lions Wire, Vaitai’s career may come to an end as a result of the injury, ending his tenure with the Lions.
According to Risdon, “Vaitai’s playing career in Detroit is most likely over due to the injury.” Because of a revised contract that declares his 2024 season to be a void year, he is a potential free agency. Even with a team that truly values everything that Vaitai brings off the field, players over 30 with persistent back problems usually don’t find much of a market.
On the opposite side of the ball, the Lions are also dealing with ailments. Defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs is out due to a sickness that he contracted this week. In addition, James Houston, the pass rusher who was placed on injured reserve due to an ankle fracture, received a negative evaluation from Campbell.
On November 14, Campbell stated, “We’d be shooting for December, but he’s still got a ways to go, and that’s probably more late December if it’s going to happen.”
“Once it heals and he’s back on the ground, I do believe this is one you can recover from fairly quickly, but he still needs to get out there, practice, get his bearings, and understand the mental aspect of it,” Campbell continued. Thus, I’m not sure. It’s difficult to predict his appearance until he steps into the scene.
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