Lions Get Some Good News on Starting Left Tackle
The Detroit Lions waited close to a month to get starting left tackle Taylor Decker back on the field after he dealt with a nagging shoulder injury, but it appeared they may have lost him again after just one game back.
Decker aggravated his shoulder in the team’s Oct. 20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leaving him with an uncertain status for the upcoming game. Head coach Dan Campbell had a bit of good news this week, raising hopes that Decker won’t have to miss any more time.
Taylor Decker Returning to Practice
Speaking to reporters, Campbell explained that Decker would miss practice on Tuesday but would be back on the field before the end of the week.
“I see him practicing [Thursday], not today. He did yesterday, but I don’t see him practicing today,” Campbell said on Tuesday, via SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit.
Decker had been dealing with shoulder pains for much of the season, getting knocked out after the team’s Sept. 28 win over the Cleveland Browns and not returning until the game against the Buccaneers on Oct. 20.
The return wasn’t so smooth, with Decker telling reporters after the game that he aggravated the injury.
“Not great,” Decker told the Detroit Free Press when asked how he felt after the game.
Decker was able to play all 68 offensive snaps in the win over the Buccaneers, then the top team in the NFC, but the left tackle gave up a sack that led to a Jared Goff fumble. While Decker played well otherwise, Campbell said the veteran lineman was frustrated by the mistake.
“He’s a perfectionist,” Campbell said, via the Detroit Free Press. “He’s a prideful guy and he wants to know he can play his best kind of football and it can get frustrating when you know you’re not 100%.
“And so I understand what that is but – and like I tell him, you help us though, you elevate us. And I just appreciate the fact he’s out there trying to get it done and hopefully we can get it to calm down and good news is I think there’s still some strength in it, but the guy’s a stud, man. He is.”
Decker had the benefit of the bye week to get some extra recovery time, and his status for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings will become clearer by the end of the week.
More Injury News for the Lions
The Lions could get another big return this week as running back and special teams mainstay Sione Vaki is expected to practice the entire week. He has missed the last four games with a groin injury, but could be close to returning this week.
“Vaki practiced yesterday. He’s going to practice today. He’s going to practice Thursday after the day off,” Campbell said. “So we’re hopeful. He looked good. He looks good right now, and hopefully we can get him to the game. That’s the plan.”
The Lions are also moving closer to getting defensive lineman Marcus Davenport back after suffering a Week 2 chest injury, but Campbell said he would remain on IR for at least a little longer.
“He is improving, but I can’t give you a definitive ‘this is when he’s going to be back.’ I’m just very confident he is going to be back. We’re going to get him back here,” Campbell said.
Saints Getting Buzz As Trade Landing Spot For Jets Star RB
The New Orleans Saints are likely going to be sellers at the trade deadline this season.
New Orleans is at the bottom of the league this year and it has a few valuable pieces who could be traded. Selling isn't the worst idea in the world because it would set the team up for future success by stocking up on draft picks.
But is there a chance they could make a trade as a buyer, too?
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox recently made the shocking suggestion that the Saints could be a landing spot in a trade for New York Jets running back Breece Hall this season...
Saints shockingly linked to trade for Jets star Breece Hall
"Breece Hall ran all over the Bengals in Week 9, helping New York pick up its first win of the season. While hanging onto Hall might give the Jets a better chance to evaluate the rest of its offense over the second half of the season, it just doesn't seem like the new regime views him as a significant part of the future," Knox wrote. "If the Jets don't plan to bring back the 24-year-old on a market contract in the spring, moving him now would make a ton of sense.
"He's the sort of high-volume back who should bring a premium return at the deadline—especially with multiple teams dealing with backfield injuries. If the Jets don't plan to bring back the 24-year-old on a market contract in the spring, moving him now would make a ton of sense. He's the sort of high-volume back who should bring a premium return at the deadline—especially with multiple teams dealing with backfield injuries."
The first thing to note is this idea is very, very unlikely. The Saints are unlikely to make an aggressive move like this.
But it could make some sense if the Saints would be able to re-sign Hall after trading for him.
Hall is on an expiring contract, so it seems like contenders would be the only teams interested in a deal. But if the Saints could trade for him and sign him to a four-year deal, it would set them up with Alvin Kamara's successor.
Hall is a star. Playing him next to Kamara would be huge for the Saints' offense, but it's still quite unlikely
