Detroit Lions: Dave Birkett, Rainer Sabin preview the 2025 NFL season
Free Press Detroit Lions beat writers Dave Birkett and Rainer Sabin preview the 2025 NFL season.
The Detroit Lions got good news on the injury front Thursday as linebacker Jack Campbell returned to practice.
Campbell was one of two Lions starters who missed practice Wednesday because of an injury. He played every snap in last week’s loss to the Green Bay Packers, but is dealing with an ankle injury.
Left tackle Taylor Decker remained out of practice Thursday with a shoulder injury, though both he and Lions offensive coordinator John Morton have said they are hopeful he will play in the Lions home opener against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 14.
If Decker can’t play Sunday, second-year lineman Gio Manu could make his offensive debut at left tackle. Manu, a fourth-round pick last year, did not play as a rookie and played just three special teams snaps against the Packers.
The Lions lost swing tackle Jamarco Jones to a season-ending ankle injury last week in practice, and practice squad tackle Dan Skipper is working his way back from a knee injury. The Lions added veteran tackle Devin Cochran to their practice squad this week.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.