By Michael Stets
INDIANAPOLIS–The Detroit Lions’ injury bug reared its ugly head once more on Thursday morning in a joint practice with the Colts.
Right tackle Rick Wagner, who signed a five-year contract worth $47.5 million with the Lions during the offseason, left practice with an undisclosed injury.
“He’s just out for a little bit, but he should be OK,” head coach Jim Caldwell said after practice.
Caldwell said Wagner had a “little issue, so he’ll be alright,” but with only two days to go until their first preseason game, the Lions offensive line is pretty far from alright. Left tackle Taylor Decker is on the PUP list after injuring his shoulder during OTAs, and is expected to miss at least the first six games of the season, possibly more than that. And right guard T.J. Lang, who the team signed to a three-year contract worth $28.5 million back in March, has missed five of the Lions’ 10 practices during training camp as he continues his recovery from offseason hip surgery.
“We’ll adjust,” said Caldwell. “That’s part of this game. You’re going to have some injuries, you’re going to have some issues, some ups and downs. Just gives somebody else an opportunity to step up, get a few more reps, get a little bit better. That’s how we look at.”
Finishing up practice at right tackle today after Wagner left with injury, was Storm Norton, an undrafted rookie free agent out of Toledo. Backup Joe Dahl filled in for Lang at right guard today and has done so in the other practices that Lang has missed. After splitting time with Cyrus Kouandjio for the first week of camp, Greg Robinson is now seeing the majority of first-team reps at left tackle. He turned in a solid day’s work on Thursday. Robinson held his own during drills against the Colts defensive line, battling the likes of defensive tackle Henry Anderson and linebacker Jabaal Sheard.
The Lions second joint practice session with the Colts takes place on Friday morning. Both teams will have an off day Saturday, before facing off in their preseason opener on Sunday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium.