ALLEN PARK -- Giovanni Manu and the Detroit Lions are hoping Taylor Decker is healthy and able to play against the Chicago Bears this weekend.
But if Decker is unable to go, it will be Manu to start at left tackle for his first NFL offensive snaps. Decker (shoulder) has missed every practice this week. And while he said he hoped to play, and offensive coordinator John Morton was operating with the expectation he would, that situation got a little cloudier after Dan Campbell spoke on Friday.
“And just for the record, Deck wants to play. I’m going to make that very clear,” the Lions coach said. “Deck wants to play. So, this is about the long-term season, is what this is going to come down to, just as far as what we do for this one.”
Campbell added that the luxury with Decker is that he’s played a ton of football, and that he would be ready to go if available, even without practicing this week.
And with Jamarco Jones on injured reserve and practice squad tackle Dan Skipper yet to practice since the season started, all eyes are on Manu.
“Well, he’s going to have to be ready,” Campbell said. “And he knows that, he’s been getting reps all week. I did think he practiced better these last two days, which is good. He’s part of a whole unit; he’s part of all five of those guys up there. He’ll be ready.”
The 2024 fourth-round pick was dressed for his first NFL game last weekend in Green Bay. Manu played three snaps on special teams, making his first appearance after working through a redshirt rookie year last season.
The 24-year-old has also spent the week of practice with the first-team offense at left tackle.
“I’m totally ready,” Manu said in the locker room on Friday. “I mean, you know, Taylor Decker, hell of a player, he’s a mentor to me. But, I’ve told myself, I’ve told people this, too. If I ever hear my No. 59 called, best believe that I’ll grab every moment of it and I’ll give it my all. And, yeah, that’s it. Seize the opportunity. Right?”
Manu’s path to the NFL is a wild one. He was an unknown draft prospect coming out of the University of British Columbia by way of Tonga. His size and athletic testing were off the charts, and general manager Brad Holmes targeted a future piece to build for the team’s vaunted offensive line.
When he first landed in Allen Park, the emotions of where he came from to where he is now got to him. But now? He’s confident that he belongs here and is ready to show the world why the Lions drafted him.
And while his own journey amazes him, Manu wants the world to know that he’s not nervous if his number is called Sunday.
“My preparation going into it will have me ready,” Manu said. “So, to me, you know, at the end of the day, you know, as serious as it is at this level that we are, you got to look at it as, like, man, it’s football, right? Like, as a kid, you played this because why? Because the sport’s fun.
“So, to me, I’m just gonna go out there, have fun, and, you know, if my name’s called, have fun and bring that W for Detroit.”
Campbell said Manu has strengths to his game, and the Lions will play to those strengths if the moment comes. Manu’s strengths are his size, athleticism and length that should help him cover his mistakes.
Manu is listed at 6-foot-7, 350 pounds and moves like he weighs about 100 pounds lighter. He hasn’t played a single snap on the offensive line in the regular season. And his first snaps on the line could come as a starting left tackle against the Bears in the team’s season opener at Ford Field.
After a week filled with communication issues and how to fix them on the offensive line, another challenge will be making sure that unit is on the same page with another new face joining them.
“Just talking, right? Starts from the center, and then, you know, echoes down from the guards to the tackles,” Manu said. “And then, if you have a tight end next to you, I gotta echo it down to him.
“Just communicating more and more. I mean, we got a few young guys in there, Christian (Mahogany) and Tate (Ratledge). Hell of a first game to have in Lambeau with a crowd like that. Obviously, it’s hard to communicate with a loud crowd, but I think we’ll do better this time, being at home. I’m not too worried about it. We’ll be all right.”
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