Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell gave optimistic injury updates on Sam LaPorta, Taylor Decker
The Detroit Lions entered and left Houston with a couple of notable injuries. Left tackle Taylor Decker missed the game with a shoulder injury suffered during the middle of the week and tight end Sam LaPorta left midway through the game with a shoulder injury of his own.
But on Monday afternoon, Lions coach Dan Campbell offered optimistic updates on both players. First on LaPorta:
“It’ll be day-to-day,” Campbell said. “But we don’t feel like this is something like, ‘Oh, man, this is going to be a long, nagging injury.’ I think we’ll get through it. I’m hopeful this week, but I can’t say that. He’s questionable.”
And on Decker:
“Decker’s questionable, but trending the right way.”
On Sunday, the Lions opted to replace Decker with backup swing tackle Dan Skipper on the left side. In previous years in which Decker missed a game or two, the Lions opted to move right tackle Penei Sewell to the left side and have someone slip in at right tackle. Last week, though, Decker went down too late in the week (Thursday), and Campbell didn’t want to shake things up.
“We felt like when the injury happened with Decker and feeling like there’s a chance he may not play, the hay was kinda already in the barn,” Campbell said. “So let’s leave Sewell at right (tackle). That’s where he took his reps (on Thursday).”
After LaPorta went down in the third quarter, the Lions simply upped the playing time of their two other tight ends, Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra. If LaPorta can’t play this week, don’t be surprised if the Lions tap James Mitchell from their practice squad to give them the three options they typically prefer on gamedays.