Tag: Halapoulivaati Vaitai

Who are the best available NFL free agent fits left for Eagles?

We’re looking at the best available free agent fits for the Philadelphia Eagles ahead of the second wave of free agency

The Eagles have undergone significant changes on both sides of the football field, involving player personnel and a retooled coaching staff.

The free agent period and NFL draft are Howie Roseman’s seasons, and the Eagles GM got off to a roaring start after inking running back Saquon Barkley to a three-year deal, signing improving pass rusher Bryce Huff and then bringing versatile defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson back into the fold.

Roseman then added talent to the backup quarterback position, acquiring Kenny Pickett from the Steelers for a 2024 third-round pick and two 2025 seventh-round picks.

The Eagles have since added wide receiver Parris Campbell, slot cornerback Tyler Hall, defensive tackle PJ Mustipher, and linebacker Oren Burks.

With the second wave of free agency set to begin, we’re looking at the best available free agent fits for Philadelphia.

Stay or go: Predicting the fate of all the Detroit Lions free agents

Which of the 18 unrestricted free agents will the Lions keep, and which ones will be suiting up elsewhere in 2024?

One of the harder parts of the offseason for NFL front offices is deciding which free agents they want to keep and which ones will have to leave. It’s a process Lions GM Brad Holmes and his Detroit front office staff are facing in the coming days.

The Lions have already made a couple of decisions, bringing back LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin and K Michael Badgley as pending free agents. That brings the total of unrestricted free agents for the Lions to 18 when the new league year starts on Wednesday, March 13th at 4 p.m. ET.

Which of the 18 unrestricted free agents will the Lions keep, and which ones will be suiting up elsewhere in 2024?

Detroit Lions unrestricted free agents now that the 2023 season is completed

With the 2024 offseason looming, here is the master list of the Detroit Lions unrestricted free agents

The Detroit Lions had an impressive season, coming within one game of a Super Bowl berth despite their loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Looking ahead, the future seems promising for the Lions.

GM Brad Holmes and Coach Dan Campbell are likely already diligently evaluating the roster, identifying areas for improvement to overcome the challenges. From a personal perspective, they should have the trust of the fanbase to execute the necessary moves. As they enter the offseason, the Lions possess $58.6 million in cap space, ranking sixth in the NFL according to Over the Cap. This substantial amount will likely be essential to bolster the roster, especially with only 38 players currently under contract for the upcoming season.

Certain players demonstrated their value this season, earning a return to the roster, while others failed to meet expectations. The decisions on who to retain and who to release will be intriguing. Here’s the comprehensive list of the Lions’ unrestricted free agents.

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Sounds like the end of the Lions line for OL Halapoulivaati Vaitai

The Lions playing career of OL Halapoulivaati Vaitai has almost certainly come to an end with his back injury

Have we seen the last of Halapoulivaati Vaitai playing in Detroit? It sure sounds like it.

Vaitai was placed on injured reserve this week with a back injury. The move comes after Vaitai, the Lions’ starting right guard, was inactive for the Week 10 game against the Chargers coming out of Detroit’s bye week.

Head coach Dan Campbell acknowledged that this back issue is an extension of the same injury that caused Vaitai, 30, to miss the entire 2022 season. Vaitai also missed time earlier this season with a knee injury. Campbell left the door cracked open for a return later this year, but for all intents and purposes, Big V’s 2023 season is over.

“That’s hard to say. I think it’s probably unlikely, but I don’t want to ever – never say never,” Campbell said of a potential Vaitai return this season. “But I would say it’s probably unlikely.”

The injury almost certainly closes the door on Vaitai’s playing career in Detroit. He’s a pending free agent, thanks to a reworked contract that leaves his 2024 season as a void year. Players over 30 with chronic back issues typically don’t find much of a market, not even with a team that genuinely appreciates all that Vaitai offers off the field.

Campbell might have hinted at a non-playing future in Detroit for Vatitai if he chooses to retire.

“I told him, we want him around here,” Campbell said of Vaitai. “He wants to be around and he’s still very much a part of us and what we are here.”

It was not said in the context of anything beyond this year, but it’s hard not to read between Campbell’s lines. Vaitai has been a fantastic mentor for young right tackle Penei Sewell, and Big V’s leadership and calm understanding of the game would seem to lend itself to a potential coaching future.

Lions 1st injury report for Week 11 vs. the Bears: 2 players sit out

Lions 1st injury report for Week 11 vs. the Bears: 2 players sit out and 3 more were limited in Wednesday’s practice

The first official Week 11 injury report from the Detroit Lions came out after Wednesday’s practice session.The first practice participation report ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Chicago Bears reflects how well the Lions fared on the injury front in the Week 10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Two players did not practice at all on Wednesday: left guard Jonah Jackson and defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs. Jackson was listed with a wrist injury as well as an ankle designation. Buggs was out with an undisclosed illness.

Three more Lions were limited:

WR Kalif Raymond (ankle)

S Ifeatu Melifonwu (hand)

DT Levi Onwuzurike (hip)

One player no longer on the injury list is guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai. Big V was placed on injured reserve earlier this week due to his ongoing back issues. Players on I.R. do not appear on the injury report.

Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones practiced in full after missing his first week with the team due to a rib injury.

Lions place Halapoulivaati Vaitai on I.R. among Week 11 roster moves

Vaitai started just 3 games before knee and back injuries sidelined him this year

Halapoulivaati Vaitai’s time with the Detroit Lions could effectively be over. The Lions placed the veteran offensive guard on injured reserve on Tuesday.

Vaitai missed several weeks earlier in the season with a knee injury, but “Big V” sat out the last two Detroit games with a back injury. That’s an extension of the same issue that kept him out of the entire 2022 season. The 30-year-old made just three starts in 2023.

Detroit was also busy on the practice squad. Prior to the reported signing of EDGE Bruce Irvin, the Lions released RB Devine Ozigbo and CB Anthony Averett from the practice squad. In their place are new signees, OL Michael Schofield and CB Kindle Vildor.

Schofield is a veteran with starting experience at both right guard and right tackle. He started five games for the Chicago Bears in 2022, his fourth NFL team in seven years. Schofield played collegiately at nearby Michigan and turns 33 on Wednesday.

Vildor is a four-year vet who played his first three seasons in Chicago. The Tennessee Titans waived him after two games this year, and he was most recently on the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad.

Detroit has one spot open on the 53-man roster. Expect that to go to long snapper Jake McQuaide, who played in Week 10 as a practice squad elevation.

Detroit Lions final injury report for Week 10 vs. the Los Angeles Chargers

The Lions head to Los Angeles with every starter ready to roll and just one player ruled out for Week 10

Coming out of the bye week, the Detroit Lions are as healthy as they can reasonably expect to be in Week 10. Only one player has been officially ruled out from Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, with one other Lion doubtful for Week 10.

Offensive lineman Halapoulivaati Vaitai is out with a back injury. Vaitai was already replaced in the starting lineup at right guard by Graham Glasgow, but this makes the move academic. Vaitai missed the 2022 season with a back injury and subsequent surgery.

The player listed as doubtful is defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike. He’s missed the last two practices with a hip issue. It’s unknown if Onwuzurike’s hip injury is related to his previous back injury. No player listed as doubtful and missing at least two days of practice has ever played during the Dan Campbell era, so consider Onwuzurike almost certain to be inactive in Los Angeles.

Two other reserves are listed as questionable. Lineman Dan Skipper and new wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones are both questionable with rib injuries.

No other players missed any practice time during the week, and none carry any injury designation into the trip to face the Chargers.

Graham Glasgow supplants Big V at right guard for the Lions

Graham Glasgow supplants Big V as the starting right guard for the Lions

There is a new starting five for the Detroit Lions offensive line. Graham Glasgow has been installed as the new full-time starting right guard in place of Halapoulivaatit Vaitai.

Head coach Dan Campbell made it official on Wednesday.

Campbell was asked if Glasgow had earned the starting right guard job.

“Yeah, I think so. I think that’s fair,” Campbell responded. “We’re always assessing Big V, and (Vaitai) is still working at it. But Graham has been productive for us, and he’s been productive at three different spots — left guard, center and certainly right guard before that. So he’s been a big asset for us. That was a good signing for us to get, and fortunate to have him. He’s a steady, reliable piece for us.”

Vaitai has battled injuries all season and was one of two Lions still limited in practice. This week, it’s the same back injury that kept him out of the offensive lineup in Week 8, but Big V also missed a month with a knee injury.

Glasgow has performed well in Vaitai’s absence. It’s been a welcome shot of depth to get him back in Detroit, where Glasgow began his NFL career back in 2016. He moved to the Broncos as a free agent in 2020, but his time in Denver did not go well. Glasgow suffered a major ankle injury and did not play well for the Broncos at either guard or center.

The only immediate downside to moving Glasgow into the starting lineup is that he is the only backup center on the entire roster, including the practice squad. As long as Frank Ragnow is healthy–and he is now–it’s a moot point. Should Ragnow go down again as he did for Detroit’s last game, it would require shuffling two spots to move Glasgow into the pivot and replace him with someone at right guard — be it Vaitai or rookie Colby Sorsdal, who played capably in that spot against the Raiders.

 

Detroit Lions offensive line the top-ranked unit from PFF

The Detroit Lions offensive line is the top-ranked unit from PFF through Week 9

During the second half of last season, it was evident that the Lions offensive line was playing some of their best football together. The run game was working and Jared Goff was standing upright.

Going into this season, there was concern at right guard and who the starter was going to be for Detroit. However, the Lions have mixed and matched different combinations at both guard and center throughout the season and have been just fine.

Graham Glasgow has been able to play center and guard for Detroit and he’s played well. Meanwhile, rookie Colby Sorsdal earned his first career start against the Raiders and played 86 snaps. Additionally, he was part of the unit that paved the way for the Lions to run for over 220 yards on the ground against Las Vegas.

Even with injuries to Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Frank Ragnow and Jonah Jackson, they’ve made it work with Kayode Awosika and Dan Skipper as well. Much of the credit goes to players and the leadership from Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker but let’s tip the hat to offensive line coach Hank Fraley. He’s one of the most underrated coaches in the league and he’s got his unit clicking on all cylinders. It doesn’t matter who’s on the field.

According to Pro Football Focus, the Lions have the top ranked offensive line unit after nine weeks of football. They’ve had a steady grip on the number one spot due to their offensive line ranking third in the NFL in pass-blocking efficiency. They’ve only allowed 72 pressures on 311 drop backs.

Adding to that, the Lions best player up front is Penei Sewell. The third-year tackle has earned an 82.4 overall grade and is ranked fourth among tackles. Whether he’s playing left or right tackle, Sewell is an absolute stud. Meanwhile, he’s always getting the team fired up before every game.

In the article, the projected offensive line starters for Detroit in week 10 are the following:

  • LT Taylor Decker
  • LG Jonah Jackson
  • C Frank Ragnow
  • RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai — Dan Campbell states Graham Glasgow has earned the right to start at RG.
  • RT Penei Sewell

This unit will have their hands full in week 10 against the Los Angeles Chargers. They’ll need to find ways to slow down Derwin James, Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa and Tuli Tiupulota.

Fortunately, all of the projected starters for the Lions offensive line are expected to be back for this game. It will be interesting to see who starts at right guard as Dan Campbell spoke to the media today and suggested that Graham Glasgow has “earned the right to start at RG.” For the full article on the PFF OL Rankings, you can read it here.

 

Lions exit the bye week with all players available in practice

The Lions had all 53 players on the active roster available for Tuesday’s practice after the bye in Week 9

The bye week worked!

On Tuesday, the Detroit Lions had every player on the active roster available for practice. It’s a very welcome change from the practice injury reports from the first eight weeks.

Among those Lions who have been injured who were practicing on Tuesday:

  • RB David Montgomery (chest)
  • C Frank Ragnow (calf)
  • RG Halapoulivaati Vaitai (back)
  • LG Jonah Jackson (ankle)
  • DL Josh Paschal (knee)
  • DT Benito Jones (ankle)
  • LB Malcolm Rodriguez (ankle)

The Lions got their bye week in Week 9 and the bumps, bruises and sprains all healed up enough to have the complete active roster available. There are still two more practices (Thursday and Friday) before the final injury designations for the Week 10 trip to Los Angeles to face the Chargers.