Another day of practice, another brutal round of injury news for the Detroit Lions. Seriously, can these guys catch a break? Day 6 of training camp brought more additions to the injury list and, crushing everyone’s hopes, zero players returning to the field. But the real gut punch came with running back Sione Vaki, whose situation went from bad to worse.
Vaki’s Nightmare And Other Skill Position Woes
Initially, we heard Vaki got poked in the eye during Monday’s practice. Rough, but hopefully minor, right? WRONG. Head coach Dan Campbell confirmed Tuesday that Vaki didn’t just get an eye poke, he also broke his nose in a total freak accident. “Vaki yesterday got poked in the eye, broken nose. So, he’s going to be out for a little bit here,” Campbell said, adding, “We’re hopeful vision should be okay in time.” Hopeful vision? Man, you never want to hear that. How does a hand even get through a face mask like that? It’s unbelievable. He’s out for now, recovering, and we’re all just hoping for the best with his vision. Meanwhile, it’s worth noting running back Jahmyr Gibbs also didn’t practice, though his absence was not injury related, which is at least a small win. And wide receiver Lawrence Keys is dealing with “a little bit of a hammy,” which Campbell suggests is pretty minor. Let’s hope that holds true, because this team needs every healthy body it can get.
The Tight End Room Is A Disaster Zone
If Vaki’s news wasn’t tough enough, the tight end position just became a full-blown crisis. Anthony Firkser, who literally joined the Lions just two days ago, broke his fibula. Broke his fibula! Campbell confirmed it, and Firkser has already been placed on injured reserve. Unless he gets released with an injury settlement, his season is over before it even had a chance to start. That’s just soul-crushing for the player and a huge blow to the depth. Add to that Miles Kitselman’s leg injury, and the tight end room is looking seriously shorthanded. The Lions had to act fast, signing Nick Muse and bringing back Zach Horton just to have enough bodies. On a slightly brighter note, Tyler Conklin, who’s been on PUP with a calf injury, is working with trainers and appears to be nearing a return. They need him back, and fast, given this absolute mess.
Other Camp Bumps And Bruises
It’s not just the skill positions taking hits. Offensive guard Ben Bartch is still sitting out drills with an undisclosed injury, though he’s working with trainers. He needs to get back on the field soon if he wants to compete for that left guard spot. We’ve also got a few guys on the PUP list, like safeties Kerby Joseph (knee) and Brian Branch (Achilles), along with edge rushers Derrick Moore (groin) and Payton Turner (back), and linebacker Jimmy Rolder (leg). Offensive tackle Giovanni Manu is also on NFI. On the bright side, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez gave us all a scare when he left practice early with an ankle injury, but he returned after practice, walking comfortably with just a mild tape job. Phew. This team needs to start getting healthy ASAP. Every snap in camp is crucial, and they can’t afford these hits as the regular season looms.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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