The Detroit Lions snagged a 17-13 preseason win against the Washington Commanders on Saturday, August 22, but let’s be real, that wasn’t the biggest headline. Running back Sione Vaki was a surprise no-show at Ford Field, and it turns out he’s battling back spasms. Just when you thought this guy was finally back in action, right?
Another Injury Blow: Vaki’s Rough Start to the Season
Man, you gotta feel for Sione Vaki. This back spasm thing isn’t “major,” according to head coach Dan Campbell, but it was enough to bench him for the game. Campbell broke it down, saying Vaki “woke up yesterday, and he just had something, kind of a knot back here that was… enough to where, it’s one of those bad spasms.” They tried to get him right, tried to loosen it out, but they just ran out of time. Campbell was totally gutted, mentioning they “would have loved to see him” play, and Vaki apparently wanted in too.
This is brutal, especially since Vaki already missed a few weeks of training camp earlier this season. Remember, he was on the mend from *both* an eye injury and a broken nose! He had literally just made an “excellent return” to practice last week, getting some solid work in after all that, as Campbell made sure to point out. The coach still sounds pretty optimistic though, saying, “We’re good, Vaki,” and he expects the running back to be back at practice this week. Every Lions fan out there has to be crossing their fingers this guy can finally get healthy and actually stick on the field.
More Injury Woes for the Lions: Wilson Jr. and Niese
Vaki’s situation wasn’t the only injury drama for the Lions coming out of Saturday. Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. had to bounce early with a knee injury. This one feels particularly brutal because Wilson was really fighting for a spot on the Lions’ 53-man roster. He was putting in work too, grabbing two catches for 4 and 17 yards on back-to-back plays before going down. Coach Campbell isn’t sugarcoating it. He’s “worried” about Wilson’s prognosis, and everyone’s just waiting on those test results. Campbell was high on Wilson, calling him a “smart, crafty football player” who “gets it” and can play every receiver spot plus special teams. Losing a versatile guy like that, especially with such an uncertain outlook, is a huge headache when you’re trying to finalize your roster.
And then there’s offensive lineman Michael Niese. He left the game with about four minutes left in the third quarter after his leg collided with Commanders safety Qwuantrezz Knight during a big 24-yard run. Niese was spotted hobbling on crutches in the locker room post-game. Campbell didn’t give any immediate word on his outlook.
So yeah, the Lions are pretty much in wait-and-see mode for a few key players after this preseason game. Everyone’s gotta be holding their breath hoping Vaki finally catches a break, and those other injury reports aren’t as bad as they currently sound.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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