The Detroit Lions are in the midst of a much-needed bye week. The additional rest will provide them with the opportunity to get healthy before the second half of the season. With four out of their first five games after the bye coming against the Vikings, Commanders, Eagles and Packers, getting more starters back should do wonders for Dan Campbell & Co. While the Lions are waiting for their key defenders to return, they received a concerning update from one of their key starters on the offensive side of the ball.
Taylor Decker, who returned to action on Sunday after missing the previous two weeks with a shoulder injury, is now dealing with the same issue, as reported by AtoZ Sports' Mike Payton on Tuesday. Dan Campbell was reportedly asked whether he thinks "it will hold up, to which he responded that he hopes so.
Lions' Taylor Decker Risk in Week 7 Comes Back to Bite Them
This was the risk the Lions took by rushing Decker back before the bye week. The 32-year-old has been dealing with the same shoulder ailment since training camp, having to skip practices while nursing it. In fact, he had only participated in three of the 18 practices since the Lions began issuing an injury report with the start of the season, per Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett. He unexpectedly returned to practice on Thursday and returned to action on Sunday, playing a season-high 68 offensive snaps.
As it's almost always the case, Decker was excellent in his snaps. He was a clear upgrade over Giovanni Manu and Dan Skipper, who started in his place in Weeks 5 and 6. So, it is understandable why the Lions would want one of their most reliable veterans back to secure a win before the bye after losing to the Chiefs. Just consider the recen PFF grades for each of those three:
Player | 2025 Grade | 2024 Grade |
|---|---|---|
Taylor Decker | 66.8 | 77.0 |
Dan Skipper | 56.0 | 55.4 |
Giovanni Manu | 43.5 | N/A |
At the same time, the Lions have to have a longer-term vision when making these decisions. Decker is one of the toughest players in the league, and he takes a lot of contact every week. He is in his tenth year in the NFL, and playing such a physical style of play, Decker is constantly at risk of injury. The fact that his discomfort returned immediately after playing a game is not a good sign for the rest of the season.
This is obviously going to be a situation the Lions need to monitor all season. They need Decker to be as healthy and fresh as possible for the final stretch of the season and the playoffs, so the priority needs to be getting him as much rest as possible throughout the season and hoping his shoulder holds up.