The Detroit Lions are preparing for the worst when it comes to Penei Sewell’s availability for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, but holding out hope the rookie will be on the field.
“Right now, we’re planning on going without him, but if he’s ready, that’d be great,” offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn said Thursday.
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Sewell suffered an ankle injury in last week’s loss to the Chicago Bears and did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. On Thursday, he spent the open portion of practice working on the side with trainers.
If he cannot play against the Vikings, the Lions will be without three of their top five linemen. Taylor Decker has not played this season after undergoing hand surgery in early September, and the Lions placed Frank Ragnow (turf toe) on injured reserve this week.
The Lions are light on replacement options for Sewell, their first-round pick in April’s draft. Swing tackle Matt Nelson has started the past four games at right tackle, taking Sewell’s place after the Lions moved Sewell to left tackle in Decker’s absence.
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Will Holden is the only backup tackle currently on the 53-man roster, though right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai could move to left tackle, the position he played for the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII.
Lynn said there is not enough time to experiment with replacement options for Sewell in practice this week, and that the Lions “have a pretty good idea of what we’re going to do there.”
Asked what that idea is, Lynn said, “Well, right now the idea’s for Penei to go out and go play if he can.”
Told he said earlier he did not expect Sewell to play, Lynn said, “I did not say I didn’t expect him to play, I don’t think I said that, but we’ll see.”
Tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) also missed practice Thursday.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.