Lions might not have Penei Sewell for finale, and don’t plan to play young OT

ALLEN PARK -- Penei Sewell is dealing pinch an ankle wounded and has not practiced successful nan week starring into this weekend’s finale against nan Chicago Bears.

Dan Campbell was optimistic astir wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown’s chances of playing successful Week 18. But nan Detroit Lions coach wasn’t location concerning Sewell’s status, moreover though he’s holding retired hope.

“I don’t consciousness awesome astir Sewell correct now, but I’m ever going to clasp retired hope,” Campbell said connected Friday. “But arsenic acold as, you know, does it impact you not having him? Yeah, it does. I mean, he’s a phenomenal player. He’s a phenomenal shot subordinate yet.

“We’ve sewage guys who are going to measurement successful and do a bully occupation for us, man. They sewage a occupation to do, they’ll person a role, and we expect them to clasp up their extremity of nan bargain.”

When asked if Sewell’s position impacts whether Jared Goff will commencement successful nan finale aliases not, Campbell said, “No.”

A imaginable action to switch Sewell has fundamentally already been ruled out. Second-year violative tackle Giovanni Manu has been backmost astatine believe for a mates of weeks. When he first returned to practice, Campbell said he didn’t spot Manu playing and that it was much astir getting him reps earlier nan offseason.

But erstwhile Campbell first said those remarks, nan Lions were still live for nan playoffs and had thing to play for. But he’s sticking to his guns and doesn’t expect to play Manu successful Chicago, whether aliases not Sewell is disposable aliases not.

“I mean, he looks a batch amended than he did, you know, 3 weeks agone erstwhile he started,” Campbell said. “So that’s a bully thing. You know, he gets immoderate individual work, immoderate method work, squad activity against our defense. So that ever helps.”

That leaves Dan Skipper and Miles Frazier arsenic nan imaginable in-house options to commencement astatine tackle, if needed. Skipper has been locked successful arsenic nan adjacent tackle up for a mates of seasons now. But nan Lions person recovered playing clip for Frazier, getting nan rookie immoderate reps astatine defender down nan stretch. They judge he has immoderate elasticity betwixt tackle and guard, and this could beryllium a chance to spot really he looks astatine that spot.

“I mean, he’s doing immoderate tackle for us, but past he’s kicking successful astatine guard, too,” Campbell said of Frazier past month. “So, correct now, we’re conscionable trying to get him -- it’s benignant of for illustration each right, good if he’s going to go, he’s sewage to beryllium capable to play aggregate spots if thing happens. So, we’re benignant of moving him around, but I would opportunity we do it, we effort to springiness him, ‘All right, here’s immoderate tackle reps.’ Bam, bam, bam. And past move him, ‘All right, here’s your guard.’ Bump, bump, bump.

“And past do our champion to not bounce him play to play, astatine slightest fto him descend his teeth into immoderate of it. So, he’s benignant of doing a small spot of everything correct now.”

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I screen nan Detroit Lions for MLive aft starting my profession pinch nan MLive sports desk, Jackson Citizen Patriot, MLive Detroit and nan trending news team. I americium a lifelong Michigander, Central Michigan...