NFL Rumors: Lions left tackle Taylor Decker expected to be out 4-6 months
Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker had shoulder surgery this week, and he’ll be out for awhile.
On Monday, in a bit of surprising news, Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker had shoulder surgery. Head coach Jim Caldwell was unwilling to offer any real details on recovery time, but did say he didn’t expect Decker to be out for the entire season.
Decker apparently suffered the injury during non-padded OTA practice last week. After being drafted 16th overall in 2016, Decker became an instant mainstay by starting all 16 games protecting Matthew Stafford’s blind side. So any sort of absence is not ideal, lengthy or otherwise, but Friday brought further details on Decker’s injury and recovery time.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Decker had surgery to repair a torn labrum and will miss 4-6 months.
#Lions LT Taylor Decker, who had surgery this week, suffered a torn labrum, source said. Time table is 4-6 months. Could start season on PUP
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 9, 2017
With Week 1 three months away, the idea Decker could start the season on the PUP list seems like a certainty. The Lions added guard T.J Lang and offensive tackle Ricky Wagner via free agency this offseason, so in concert with Decker’s expected improvement they had the makings of a very solid offensive line this year.
Joe Dahl immediately took Decker’s place at left tackle during Monday’s OTA practice, so he’s the current front-runner to start. Incumbent backups Corey Robinson and Cornelius Lucas could also enter the mix.
Former Buffalo Bills lineman Cyrus Kouandjio announced he was visiting the Lions earlier this week, after the news Decker had shoulder surgery, but he is working his way back from hip surgery after an offseason fall in his home. He started five games at left tackle for the Bills last season, with a solid grade from Pro Football Focus (No. 29 out of 76 tackle qualifiers), but an odd incident with police in April seemed to precipitate his release in May.
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The wide end of Decker’s timetable to return is early December. Depending on how hard they are hit by injuries to key players, even with a new rule allowing teams to designate two players as able to return from IR, the Lions may be forced to do without their left tackle all season.