The member with the longest tenure on the Detroit Lions is going to his inaugural Pro Bowl.
Left tackle Taylor Decker will participate in the Pro Bowl games this week as an injury substitute for right tackle Penei Sewell, the team announced on Monday.
Sewell topped the fan voting among NFC tackles and was selected for his third Pro Bowl. The specific injury that led Sewell to withdraw from the Pro Bowl is unknown. He participated in every play during the Lions’ playoff defeat to the Washington Commanders and was not mentioned on the injury report for the team that week.
Decker, selected in the first round of 2016, served as the third alternate tackle. He played in 14 of 17 games this season and was a crucial part of the Lions’ sixth-best rushing offense.
The Lions are sending seven players to the Pro Bowl, which features skills competitions and a flag football match. Alongside Decker, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, quarterback Jared Goff, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, center Frank Ragnow, safety Brian Branch, and punter Jack Fox were set to take part in the games.
Dave Birkett wrote the book titled “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline.” Request your copy here. Reach him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Connect with him on Bluesky, X, and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This piece first published in the Detroit Free Press: Lions left tackle going to Pro Bowl as substitute for Penei Sewell due to injury
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