The Detroit Lions have made their practice squad elevation for the Week 2 game against the Chicago Bears and it’s a good sign for left tackle Taylor Decker.
The team announced it is only elevating linebacker Monty Rice. The Lions likely would have elevated an offensive lineman as well if they had more concern about Decker’s status for Sunday.
Without Decker, the Lions would only have seven offensive linemen suited up and no other backup tackle on the roster. Jamarco Jones was originally listed as the backup at right tackle but suffered a season-ending injury.
Decker had offseason shoulder surgery, but it remains unclear if this is related to that. He did not practice all week but drew a questionable tag on Friday.
Head coach Dan Campbell made it quite clear that Decker doesn’t need to practice to play and his ability to suit up would depend upon how he feels.
“He’s got a little bit of something here, and so, we’re just trying to buy him some time to where he feels better,” Campbell said on Friday. “A lot of it too is the luxury of — Decker’s played a lot of football, so he’ll be ready as long as it feels right.”
In the event Decker doesn’t play, the Lions would have to lean on 2024 fourth-round pick Giovanni Manu, who has never played an offensive snap in his NFL career.
Manu did play in all four exhibition games for Detroit this year and surrendered eight pressures and one QB hit but no sacks in 143 snaps at left tackle. He posted Pro Football Focus grades of 58.2 in pass protection and 44.0 in run-blocking.
We’ll get an exact answer on Decker at about 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, when the Lions release their inactives ahead of kickoff at 1 p.m. ET.
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