The Detroit Lions had a lot of changes over the offseason, and one of the biggest was along the offensive line. Kevin Zeitler’s departure to the Tennessee Titans and Frank Ragnow’s sudden retirement put two massive holes in one of the foundational pieces of the Lions’ success in the trenches, and it showed up during their Week 1 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Having Micah Parsons thrown into the game at the 11th hour didn’t do Detroit any favors. But the disappointing debut of second-round pick Tate Ratledge and an overall performance that allowed Jared Goff to be pressured on 37.2% of his dropbacks – a big increase on the 33% he was pressured last season.
If the Lions want to defeat old friend Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears on Sunday, they’ll need a better performance from their offensive line. Unfortunately, that task became difficult as they’ll likely be without left tackle Taylor Decker in Week 2.
Taylor Decker’s Status Remains Big Concern for Lions Ahead of Week 2
Decker’s status has been up in the air since he admitted to reporters he had been dealing with an undisclosed injury on Wednesday. A few hours later, Decker was listed on the Lions’ injury report with a shoulder injury and missed all three days of practice before he was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game in the final report released on Friday afternoon.
It’s not a good sign for a player who had a surgical clean-up procedure on his shoulder during the offseason. But Decker remained optimistic that he would play against the Bears. Even if Decker is trying to put positive vibes into the universe, it doesn’t mean good things for his availability on Sunday, and it will test Detroit’s depth in the trenches.
Jamarco Jones landed on season-ending injured reserve last weekend with an ankle injury, while practice squad tackle Dan Skipper is dealing with tendonitis in his knee. 2024 fourth-round pick Giovanni Manu would be the next man up in this scenario, but he has only played three special teams snaps during his career, which came in last week’s loss to the Packers.
In addition, Manu hasn’t looked ready for a bigger role. After Pro Football Focus gave Manu a 48.6 overall grade during the 2024 preseason, the 24-year-old had a 49.0 overall grade during this year’s preseason slate, which shows little improvement for a player the Lions have high hopes for.
All of these things make Lions fans pray that Decker will be available on Sunday. But even if he suits up, it’s a question of how effective he will be on the field. Either way, the Lions have to find some kind of solution as the Bears come to town.