Tag: Penei Sewell

The Lions blatantly disrespected the Cowboys by running a trick play for Penei Sewell while up by 28 points

Dan Campbell HATES the Cowboys.

In case there was any doubt, the Detroit Lions do not like the Dallas Cowboys. In fact, after ruining Jerry Jones’ birthday in a 47-9 laugher on Sunday, I’d go as far as to say that Dan Campbell’s team actually hates the Cowboys.

I know this because the Lions were still running up the score in every possible way, even after they were up by four touchdowns.

The most egregious example came at the end of the third quarter, with the Lions leading 37-9 while in the red zone. Rather than run a straight-up play, Detroit elected to dig into its bag of tricks. It did so by running a hook and ladder for All-Pro OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Penei Sewell.

While the play would come back because of an ineligible man downfield on Detroit’s Frank Ragnow, the levels of disrespect here are simply unmatched:

https://twitter.com/nickbaumgardner/status/1845599838349439019

Take notice, Cowboys fans. This is where your team is. A Super Bowl contender is basically laughing at your squad when it runs plays like this, and I don’t hate it at all.

Three players to watch in the Lions vs Bucs game in Week 2

Three players to watch in the Lions vs Bucs game in Week 2

It may not have been pretty but the Detroit Lions won their first game of the season last week against the Los Angeles Rams. Yes, the Lions did lose their grasp of a 17-3 lead but fortunately, they had a good enough drive to get to overtime and an even better drive in overtime.

Outside of their run game, the Lions offense looked like they were shaking off some of the rust in Week 1. But they had big performances from David Montgomery and Jameson Williams. Meanwhile, the Lions defense had a bend-but-do-n’t-break type of game.

At times, they would get torched by Rams quarterback Mathew Stafford and receiver Cooper Kupp. That connection felt automatic in that game. Fortunately, the Lions were able to make two stops in the final four minutes of regulation. From there, the Lions offense handled their business and did what was needed to get points on the board and win the game.

Now we move to Week 2 and it’s another home game for Detroit. This time, they welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I expect to see receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown with a big game on Sunday, and I do believe the Lions rushing attack will do its thing, per usual. With that, I do have six total players to watch for in the Lions and Buccaneers game on Sunday.

CB Terrion Arnold

Starting with the Detroit Lions, eyes should be on cornerback Terrion Arnold this week. In his first career start, he did give up eight catches for 57 yards and did get hit with two pass interference calls. Despite giving up a high percentage of passes against one of the best quarterbacks in the game, Arnold was physical and around the football in week one.

That’s all Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions could ask for to be honest. Arnold finished with 8 tackles and closed quickly to the football. While he was matched up against one of the best receivers in football with Rams receiver Cooper Kupp, there was reassurance from head coach Dan Campbell.

Speaking to the media after their win, Campbell said, “He’s [Arnold] gonna be a good corner in this league for a while.” Meanwhile, Cooper Kupp told Arnold that “he’s one of them ones.” So, while the stat line may say one thing, coaches and players are saying another about the Lions’ first-round pick from the 2024 NFL Draft.

Against the Bucs, Arnold will have his hands full against receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Both players should be automatic plays in your fantasy leagues but the hope is for Arnold to have an improved stat line in week two. All eyes should be on him as he tries to come up with some key plays for the Detroit defense this week.

RT PENEI SEWELL

Offensively, all eyes should be on the right tackle this week against the Bucs. Right now, we’re monitoring the ankle injury sustained by right tackle Penei Sewell. He had gotten injured during one of the last practices of the summer and he battled through the injury last week. However, he’s ended up on the injury report this week and it’s unclear if he ends up playing this week.

If Sewell does sit for this game, the Lions will have to decide who they play at right tackle. Do they play Dan Skipper? Or should they activate Colby Sorsdal or Giovanni Manu?

Playing the guessing game, I would have to think the Lions will keep Manu inactive for the second game of the season. It just doesn’t seem like he’s ready to go just yet. But we could see Colby Sorsdal start in place of Sewell.

Last season, Sorsdal played in 253 offensive snaps but he only earned a 41.8 overall grade from PFF. He allowed one sack and had two penalties and started 3 games in 2023. That said, Sorsdal was inactive last week. That leads me to believe that he would need to have one heck of a week in practice to get the nod over Dan Skipper.

It feels like the Lions are confident in playing Skipper when they’re in a pinch. That’s what it feels like it will be this week for the Lions starter at right tackle. Stay updated on the Lions injury report throughout the weekend but I’d expect Skipper to start if Sewell can’t play.

DT DJ Reader

Lastly, we’re finally going to see DJ Reader play for the Lions. It’s unclear how many snaps he’ll play or if he’ll even start for the Lions. However, I’d expect him to start alongside Alim McNeill.

There’s doubt that Marcus Davenport will play against the Bucs and if that’s the case, I’d expect a heavy dosage of Josh Paschal and Levi Onwuzurike starting opposite of Aidan Hutchinson.

Regardless, we could see Reader start and still play in a limited fashion. Whatever happens, he’ll provide experience and spark to the middle of the Lions defense. The key for Reader won’t be to just stop the run or create pressure but essentially, the Lions will want him to come out of this game as healthy as he was coming into the game.

 

Lions final Week 2 injury report: 2 ruled out, Davenport doubtful and 3 more questionable

Lions final Week 2 injury report: 2 ruled out, Marcus Davenport doubtful and 3 starters are questionable including Penei Sewell

The final injury status report for the Detroit Lions ahead of their Week 2 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has some important names on it. Two players have been ruled out, one more is listed as doubtful and three others are questionable for Sunday afternoon’s game.

Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu and rookie wide receiver Isaiah Williams have been ruled out. Williams suffered an abdominal injury in Thursday’s practice and has not returned to the lineup. Melifownu continues to be sidelined by an ankle injury suffered in the team’s second preseason game in Kansas City a month ago. He practiced briefly last week before being ruled out of Week 1 and did not practice at all in Week 2.

Starting EDGE Marcus Davenport is listed as doubtful with a groin injury suffered in the Week 1 win over the Rams. Without knowing the severity of Davenport’s injury, it’s worth noting that no player who has been listed as doubtful on the final injury report has ever been active for a game under Dan Campbell.

Three players are questionable, including All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell (ankle). Sewell insists he will play Sunday.

Safety Kerby Joseph (hamstring) and wide receiver Jameson Williams (ankle) are also listed as questionable. All three players with that designation participated in Friday’s practice on a limited basis.

Lions vs. Bucs Friday injury report – Medical breakdown

Lions vs. Bucs Friday injury report – Medical breakdown of all the injuries on both squads entering their Week 2 matchup

DETROIT LIONS

The two main injury concerns coming out of last game were Penei Sewell and Jameson Williams and they remain question marks for this Sunday. Surprises popped up during the week with starters Kerby Joseph and Marcus Davenport.

(NP = No Practice, LP = Limited Practice, FP = Full Practice, UL= Unlisted)

Penei Sewell NP NP LP QUESTIONABLE – ankle, OT

On video, Sewell appeared to get rolled up on the right leg which often causes a high ankle sprain. He didn’t miss any snaps and seemed fine immediately after the game.

However, high ankles can be tricky and sideline players longer than you might initially think. With an LP on Friday, it is possible Sewell could play.

Last year, Taylor Decker suffered a similar injury, finished the game, then missed the next two.

Also last year, Jonah Jackson had a similar injury, finished the game, then missed the next three.

A factor affecting Sewell’s availability this weekend is that the Lions might take extra caution in an expected 20-game season. Missing 1-2 games in a long season is not a huge deal and even carries benefits in load and risk reduction.

Jameson Williams LP LP LP QUESTIONABLE – ankle, WR

On video, there was a very slight external rotation of the left ankle which likely caused a mild high ankle sprain. He did finish the game in spectacular fashion with a 52-yard TD reception.

With three LP’s, I would expect him to play with minimal to no limitations. While his left ankle may be sore, after taking a look at the Bucs depleted secondary, it may magically feel a lot better.

Kerby Joseph NP LP LP QUESTIONABLE – hamstring, S

Last Sunday, he camouflaged himself in the end zone as he picked off Matthew Stafford. This Sunday, he might be camouflaging himself on the bench.

The hamstring was a surprise as there were no signs of injury during the game and he played until the final defensive snap. It’s possible he hurt it during the week. Having two LP’s to end the week is reassuring that it isn’t serious.

If this Joseph can’t go, the other Joseph (Brandon) will likely take his place.

Marcus Davenport NP NP NP DOUBTFUL – groin, DE

Davenport played until the penultimate defensive play. I didn’t see any signs of injury throughout the game but groin injuries are hard to see.

The groin is a very complex area with many possible injuries, so without any details, it’s difficult to prognosticate. Hopefully, it is just a mild muscle strain of the hip adductors or hip flexors.

While he will be out this Sunday, the doubtful designation is a good sign that this is a short-term issue and he may be ready within the next two weeks.

DJ Reader FP FP FP IN – quad, DT

The grueling, nine-month road to recovery from a quad tendon tear that also included a knee scope speed bump will end this Sunday. Expect limited snaps to ease this big man in.

Carlton Davis FP FP FP IN – chest, CB

After letting an interception slip through his hands, Davis landed on his elbow likely causing a mild rib or ab injury.

The disability will be minimal but there might be some discomfort with chest expansion movements like deep breaths, extending arms, or torso rotation. My medical advice would be to just catch the ball next time.

Ifeatu Melifonwu NP NP NP OUT – ankle, S

An injury likely suffered in the 2nd preseason game is still lingering and starting to become a chronic concern.

Loren Strickland FP FP FP IN – thumb, S

With Melifonwu out and Kerby Joseph questionable, the door could be open for this undrafted rookie to be active this weekend in a backup role.

Isaiah Williams UL LP NP OUT – abdomen, WR

Assuming Jamo is playing, Isaiah Williams’ absence will have minimal impact.

Dan Campbell Friday press conference decryption

Campbell seemed unsure about Sewell’s availability this weekend but it doesn’t sound long-term.

When asked if Sewell’s injury was a high ankle, Campbell said “I think it’s a little bit more medial than that”. High ankle isn’t really a medial vs lateral issue so hard to say what he meant here.

Campbell may have meant more distal which means the pain is lower down the leg thus any high ankle involvement is minimal which would be good.

If he truly meant medial, the deltoid ligament is on the medial side of the ankle and can be injured with the same mechanism of a high ankle sprain. For example, Taylor Decker had a deltoid ligament repair this offseason. If it was just a deltoid ligament sprain and not a high ankle syndesmosis injury, that should be a good thing.

TAMPA BAY BUCS

The Bucs suffered significant injuries coming out of week one specifically to the secondary where at least three players (Winfield, Hayes, Hall) and maybe four (Smith) from last week will be out. Also, line starters Kancey and Goedeke are out.

Calijah Kancey NP NP NP OUT – calf, DT

Kancey missed week one with this calf injury and will be out again on Sunday.

Last year, he had a calf strain in training camp that took four weeks to recover from. Then in his first game back in week one, he aggravated it and missed the next three games. With this kind of personal medical history, the Bucs are wise to be cautious.

Luke Goedeke LP NP NP OUT – concussion, OT

The Bucs starting RT might have had a re-emergence of concussion symptoms after Wednesday’s practice. This will be the second straight week that the Lions’ opponent is missing at least one OT.

Antoine Winfield Jr NP NP NP OUT – ankle, S

This impact starter got hurt last game and will be out this Sunday.

Zyon McCollum LP FP FP QUESTIONABLE – concussion, CB

This starting CB has passed through the concussion protocol and very likely will be available.

Josh Hayes NP NP NP OUT – ankle, CB

This backup CB left last game with an ankle injury and was later seen in a boot. That’s often a bad sign and turns out to be the case here.

Tykee Smith UL NP NP QUESTIONABLE – illness, DB

As if the Bucs secondary wasn’t hurting enough, this rookie DB who played 68% of snaps last game came down with an illness during the week.

Logan Hall LP FP FP QUESTIONABLE – foot, DE

Hall missed week one with this injury but two FP’s means he’s likely ready now.

KJ Britt LP FP FP IN – illness, LB

William Gholston LP FP FP IN – elbow, DT

Lavonte David UL UL LP IN – rest, OLB

Mike Evans UL UL LP IN – rest, WR

NOTABLES UNLISTED

Bryce Hall CB OUT

This backup CB fractured his ankle this past weekend and was placed on IR.

Penei Sewell among 3 Lions still sidelined from practice

Penei Sewell among 3 Lions still sidelined from practice on Thursday ahead of Week 2 matchup with the Buccaneers

The Detroit Lions injury report didn’t get any better from Wednesday to Thursday ahead of the team’s Week 2 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Four players remain out of action, including All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell.

Sewell is still sidelined with an ankle injury he suffered in the Week 1 win over the Rams. No. 58 has downplayed the severity, but it’s still missed time.

Also sitting out Thursday’s practice:

  • EDGE Marcus Davenport (groin)
  • S Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle)

Davenport played quite well in his Lions debut, registering several hits on Rams QB Matthew Stafford. Melifownu has downgraded from being a limited participant in the final two practices last week to not participating. He’s been hurt since the team’s second preseason game in Kansas City.

On the positive front, starting safety Kerby Joseph upgraded from out to limited. Joseph is battling a hamstring. Alas, wideout Isaiah Williams downgraded to limited participant with a listed abdominal issue. Typically that change in status indicates an injury was suffered during practice, though the practices are not open to the media during the season to know for sure.

Wide receiver Jameson Williams was limited for the second straight day with an ankle.

[lawrence-related id=111584]

Lions-Buccaneers initial injury report medical analysis

Lions-Buccaneers initial injury report medical analysis, including info on Penei Sewell, Jameson Williams, Ifeatu Melifonwu and more

A minuscule Week 1 injury report has ballooned in Week 2. Overall, most of the injuries are likely mild, which is good news.

Penei Sewell NO PRACTICE ankle, OT

Obscured video suggests Sewell had a right high ankle injury. He didn’t miss any plays.

High ankle injuries can be tricky as they can cause instability. Even mild ones can result in missed time, like we saw last year with Taylor Decker and Jonah Jackson, who both finished games but then missed two and three games, respectively.

 

Jameson Williams LIMITED PRACTICE ankle, WR

Williams was down for a bit after a tweak to the left high ankle. Players can play through them but still end up missing future games.

I expected that he may get some precautionary rest this week. The LP vs an NP is an excellent sign that he will be available with minimal to no limitations vs the Bucs.

DJ Reader FULL PRACTICE quad, DT

Our most prized free agent signing is expected to make his debut almost exactly nine months from his quad tendon tear on December 16, 2023.

Expect Reader’s snaps to be limited as he has only been practicing for three weeks. Easing him into the season would be a prudent move to try to avoid any further injury.

Kerby Joseph NO PRACTICE hamstring, S

Joseph was in until the final defensive play so hopefully this means it’s nothing serious.

Marcus Davenport NO PRACTICE groin, DE

Davenport was in on the penultimate defensive play vs the Rams. No signs of injury, so severity is uncertain. After only playing four games last year, he needs to prove he can stay healthy.

Carlton Davis FULL PRACTICE chest, CB

Landing on his elbow could have caused the wind to get knocked out of him or a slightly more serious rib cartilage or abdominal injury. The fact that he was listed with a chest means it was a bit more than just wind. The FP suggests he is good and it was probably just a mild bruise.

Ifeatu Melifonwu NO PRACTICE ankle, S

With a possible ankle sprain suffered in the 2nd preseason game, Melifonwu is still not practicing — not a good sign for this weekend.

Loren Strickland FULL PRACTICE thumb, S

This undrafted rookie looks to be ready for this weekend. He may end up making his debut, depending on the health of Melifonwu and Kerby Joseph.

NOTABLES UNLISTED

Terrion Arnold

Against the Rams, Arnold laid down briefly for unknown reasons as nothing showed up on video. He appeared to be reaching for the left hip and upper leg area but this was inconclusive.

Brian Branch

Branch stayed down for an extra second this past Sunday after what appeared to be a hard hit to the side of the head which was worrisome for a concussion. There were no external signs of a concussion on the limited video.

Being unlisted is a reassuring sign that he avoided a concussion although it doesn’t rule out an undiagnosed concussion. Without external signs, a doctor can not diagnose a concussion unless the patient self-reports symptoms. Either way, he should be available on Sunday.

Alex Anzalone

Anzalone was sandwiched awkwardly while making a tackle on Sunday night. The video was benign and it’s good to see nothing came of it.

Dan Campbell Wednesday Press Conference Notes

No injuries were discussed at all. James Houston‘s preseason bone bruise injury was not brought up as a factor when Campbell discussed his inactivation in week one.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Calijah Kancey NO PRACTICE calf, DT

Kancey missed week one with this calf injury.

Last year, he had a calf strain in training camp that took four weeks to recover from. Then in his first game back on week one, he aggravated it and missed the next three games.

With this kind of directly relevant personal history, I expect the Bucs to play it very safe and not even consider playing him this weekend.

Antoine Winfield Jr NO PRACTICE ankle, S

This important starter will miss the game on Sunday due to an ankle injury.

Zyon McCollom LIMITED PRACTICE concussion, CB

An LP means that he will likely pass through the concussion protocol and be ready for Sunday.

Josh Hayes NO PRACTICE ankle, DB

Hayes left last game with an ankle injury and was later seen in a boot which is not a good sign for availability this weekend.

KJ Britt LIMITED PRACTICE illness, LB

William Gholston LIMITED PRACTICE elbow, DT

Luke Goedeke LIMITED PRACTICE concussion, OT

Logan Hall LIMITED PRACTICE foot, DE

NOTABLES UNLISTED

Bryce Hall CB fractured his ankle this past weekend and was placed on IR.

FANTASY IMPACT

The Bucs have major secondary issues as four defensive backs were injured in their last game. At least two will not play (Hall, Winfield) and likely three (Hayes). Also likely out is Calijah Kancey, a good pass rushing DT.

This could open the door for Williams to have another big game or for St. Brown to make his typical impact. Kalif Raymond and Sam LaPorta likely will benefit also.

Last year in the playoff game vs the Bucs, St. Brown had 8 receptions for 77 yards, LaPorta had nine for 65, and Williams two for 35. Raymond did not play due to a right knee injury.

If the Bucs decide to drop more players back to protect the secondary, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery could capitalize in the running game. Last year in the playoffs, Gibbs had a big day with nine rushes for 74 yards and four receptions for 40 yards while Montgomery had ten rushes for 33 yards and three receptions for 14 yards.

Regardless of who gets the yards, the offense is primed to bounce back after gaining only 293 yards in regulation against the Rams.

Lions vs. Rams Monday postgame medical report

Lions vs. Rams Monday postgame medical report with updates on Carlton Davis, Penei Sewell, DJ Reader and more

Despite having to play extra time to get a tough win, the Lions exited the Rams game in very good shape and there are no medical concerns for me at this time. Here are my initial thoughts on players that may have suffered injuries during the game, along with the time stamp for the injury.

Carlton Davis 4q 00:11

Davis was a concern when he left the game after going down at the end of regulation. There was only one defensive play after that, which made it hard to assess the severity.

On video, after Davis let the ball slip through his hands, he landed hard on his elbow which could have caused the wind to be knocked out of him. The worse case would be a rib cartilage or ab injury. No concerns for an elbow injury as it was protectively flexed at time of impact.

After the game, Davis confirmed to Colton Pouncy that it was just wind and he is fine.

Jameson Williams 2q 4:53

On video, Williams’ left high ankle was mildly tweaked due to a slight external rotation. He continued to play with no ill effects, although he did make the Rams feel sick in the 3rd quarter with a 52-yard TD catch.

Jamo might need some extra rest this week but should be full-go vs the Bucs. With the Bucs secondary suffering multiple significant injuries this past weekend, Williams may be headed for another big day.

Penei Sewell 1q 3:09

Obscured video showed Sewell possibly getting his right leg rolled up on which can cause a high ankle sprain. He limped a bit but missed no plays. After the game, he was walking up the tunnel with no obvious limp and there was no report of seeing him in a walking boot.

Recall last year that Taylor Decker and Jonah Jackson both suffered high ankle injuries and finished the game, but were seen in a walking boot afterwards and missed multiple games. Early signs are good that Sewell avoided significant injury and very likely will be available vs the Bucs.

Brian Branch 4q 13:24

No good replays here but the game video showed Branch taking a hard hit possibly to the left side of his head. He missed no plays, but a mild concussion is possible.

As is often the case with mild “bell rung” concussions, it requires the patient to report symptoms for a diagnosis to be made by a doctor. I’m not expecting Branch to miss any time unless he self-reports symptoms.

Terrion Arnold 3q 5:13

Video showed Arnold lying on his back possibly with pain to the left hip or leg but hard to say. I reviewed that play along with all the previous plays of that drive and there were no signs of injury, although TV angles are notorious for not showing the secondary.

He missed two plays and finished the game with no problems.

Alex Anzalone 3q 6:30

Anzalone was briefly down after getting awkwardly sandwiched while making a tackle. His right knee did land hard but he missed no plays and nothing is too concerning on video. Of note, he has had a chronic right shoulder issue since his college days and always wears a shoulder brace.

 

Dan Campbell Monday press conference tidbits

DJ Reader is on track to play this Sunday vs the Bucs. There were no other medical updates or surprises.

The Lions name their team captains for 2024

The Lions name their team captains for 2024, including Aidan Hutchinson as a first-time captain

The Detroit Lions officially named six players as team captains for the 2024 season. For a strong contender with most of the primary players returning from a year ago, it was pretty easy to predict who would get selected to be captains for the coming year.

As selected by the players and coaches, the Lions captains for 2024:

  • QB Jared Goff
  • WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
  • RT Penei Sewell
  • EDGE Aidan Hutchinson
  • LB Alex Anzalone
  • LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (special teams)

All but Hutchinson were team captains in 2023. No. 97 joins the captaincy circle, taking the place of now-departed veteran Charles Harris.

The Lions social media team had some fun with the announcement of the captains, as they are wont to do…

https://twitter.com/Lions/status/1830690119956701378

Lions projected starting offensive line graded as best run blocking group

Lions projected starting offensive line graded as best 2023 run blocking group

The Lions are going to sport one of the most explosive passing offenses in the league this season, led by quarterback Jared Goff and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Their run game figured to be just as good and deserves more love.

Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery will once again provide one of the best one-two punches in the backfield. But the key to their run game is going to be their offensive line, led by their two stalwart tackles Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker.

Those two, along with Graham Glasgow, Frank Ragnow and Kevin Zeitler, combined for the best offensive run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus during the 2023 season.

The gap between the Lions and the second-highest team, the Atlanta Falcons, is noticeable. More than five points separate the two teams. The Lions had the top run-blocking tackle in Sewell and the top center in Ragnow among players that played at least half of their team’s offensive snaps.

The Lions are going to move people up front. Even with the change from Jonah Jackson to Zeitler, the former Raven was still one of the better run blockers last season. The Lions will be just fine in the run game.

Penei Sewell: More good news on his injury status

Sewell left Wednesday’s scrimmage with a foot injury, but new reports indicate it’s not serious

The good news keeps coming on the Penei Sewell injury front. The Lions All-Pro right tackle appears little worse for the wear from his foot injury suffered in Wednesday’s practice.

After a report later on Wednesday that Sewell was “good”, there is even more clarity on what the definition of “good” is for the big man. Eric Woodyard of ESPN reports that Sewll “suffered a rolled ankle” and has “no issues” beyond it. Woodyard notes that Sewll had an MRI already.

It’s definitely a welcome note and sigh of relief. Sewell was not expected to play at all in Saturday’s preseason finale even before the injury. Second-year OT Colby Sorsdal is expected to play significantly in Sewell’s spot against the Steelers, as he has in the first two preseason contests.