The Detroit Lions received a double blow to their tight end and running back positions on Tuesday morning, as head coach Dan Campbell revealed that Anthony Firkser suffered a broken fibula during Monday's padded practice, while running back Sione Vaki broke his nose and is expected to miss "a little while."
Dan Campbell told reporters that tight end Anthony Firkser suffered a broken fibula during Monday's padded practice.
The injury is a significant concern for the Lions, who were already thin at tight end. With rookie Miles Kitselman expected to be out "for a while" with his own leg injury, the team signed Nick Muse and released wide receiver Tarik Black to address the position.
Detroit's tight end room was already a concern, with Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Tyler Conklin, and several other players competing for depth roles. Firkser's injury removes another experienced option from that competition, leaving the team to consider adding another tight end to maintain enough healthy players for practice.
Sione Vaki's injury, on the other hand, appears to be less severe, with Campbell suggesting that the third-year running back will be sidelined temporarily. However, Vaki's value to the team stretches beyond the offensive backfield, as he is considered one of the top special-teams players and entered camp behind Jahmyr Gibbs and Isiah Pacheco in the running back rotation.
With Gibbs still not practicing, Vaki's absence temporarily removes another option from Detroit's backfield. The team may need to rely on other players to fill the gap, at least until Vaki returns to action.
The Lions' first padded practice of the season has already produced two confirmed injuries, and it remains to be seen how the team will address the issues. With the preseason just getting underway, Detroit's front office may need to make some quick decisions to ensure the team has enough healthy players for the regular season.
Source: Yahoo Sports