APPLETON, Wis. -- The Detroit Lions’ offensive tackle depth took a hit ahead of their season-opening game against the Green Bay Packers.
They placed veteran Jamarco Jones on injured reserve due to an ankle injury. Jones will be required to miss at least four games. The offensive tackle was a late addition to the practice report, previously dealing with an ankle injury in training camp, too.
Jones won the team’s OT3 job and was in line to see work as the extra blocker in those heavy-set formations. But this injury update throws a wrench into those plans.
And with Dan Skipper missing time in practice this week, and not getting elevated from the practice squad, it will likely be guard Kayode Awosika and offensive tackle Giovanni Manu providing depth.
Manu spent his rookie season as a healthy scratch and should be in line for his first active game day in Green Bay on Sunday. Awosika is good to go after working through a shoulder issue earlier this week.
Hank Fraley, the team’s offensive line coach, said Manu has come a long way from where he was as a rookie. The Lions took a chance on the behemoth of a prospect out of the University of British Columbia in 2024’s fourth round, and he could be set for his first action on Sunday against the Packers.
“He’s not where we want him to be yet, and he’s not where he wants to be yet,” Fraley said. “But the good thing about him is, he works hard at it. It’s not perfect ... It’s just being consistent, and he’s gotten more consistent in time. We’re gonna have to count on him somewhere down the line here.
“I think we’re gonna have to count on all the guys that we have in our building here, you know? ... I think Gio, when his time is called, he’s gonna be ready to play for us, and he’s gotten better. We’re looking forward to him contributing this year.”
The Lions signed running back Jacob Saylors to their main roster from the practice squad. Saylors will boost the depth behind Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery and Craig Reynolds after Sione Vaki was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Saylors signed with the Lions shortly before the team’s preseason opener. He earned a spot on the practice squad and even some praise from coach Dan Campbell ahead of the regular season.
“Look, I’ve said this before -- I kind of like Saylors, and I mean that in a good way,” Campbell said. “There’s something about him, he’s kind of a football player. He’s pretty crafty, pretty nifty. He’s got detail to what he does -- the runs, the landmarks, the check downs.
“There’s something there, and we like him, and it was good to see him go back in there and play a little bit. I think he’s a football player.”
They also elevated linebacker Anthony Pittman from the practice squad for Week 1. Trevor Nowaske (elbow) was ruled out against the Packers after not practicing all week. Pittman has played a ton of snaps on special teams for the Lions in the past and knows what is expected from Dave Fipp’s unit.
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