Penei Sewell Injury Update
Penei Sewell gave the Detroit Lions a real scare on Christmas Day but the early signs are that he avoided a serious injury. He left the game in the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings then came back before halftime and finished the night which points to a short term issue rather than a major one.
The injury happened on a run play with a little more than five minutes left in the first half while the Lions were in the red zone down seven to zero. A defender fell into the back of Sewells left leg and the replay showed his ankle twisting awkwardly as he held his block which sent him to the turf in clear pain.
Teammates quickly gathered around him while trainers checked his lower leg and ankle and he stayed down for a long stretch before getting up.
Sewell eventually walked off the field without a cart but he had a visible limp and a grimace as he headed to the sideline for more testing. Early reports on the broadcast and from beat reporters described it as a leg or ankle injury and there was no mention of anything like a fracture or season ending damage.
The Lions replaced him for the rest of that drive while medical staff evaluated him in the tent and tried to get the swelling and pain under control.
The key news for the Lions is that Sewell returned before halftime. He came back onto the field for a critical fourth down snap late in the second quarter then stayed in the lineup as Detroit tried to rally after a rough start. That return strongly suggests the injury falls into the mild to moderate sprain range rather than something that would knock him out for weeks. One independent doctor who reviewed video suggested a left ankle sprain and possibly some involvement of the knee but nothing that screamed definite long term absence.
This latest scare fits a pattern for Sewell this season where he gets banged up then fights through it. He has already dealt with an ankle issue that kept him limited in practice for several weeks plus a shoulder problem that briefly put him on the injury report.
Earlier in the year he also left a game with lower body pain and an eye issue then returned after tests and played the following week or at least stayed in the mix to suit up. Coaches have praised his toughness as he continues to anchor the right side of the line despite all the knocks.
For now there is no official word that Sewell will miss the next game. The Lions are expected to monitor his ankle and overall leg soreness in the coming days and his practice workload will tell a lot about his chances to play in Week 18. Given that he came back into the Christmas game and finished it the expectation around the team is that this does not look like a long term injury though some rest or limited reps would not be a surprise.
Fantasy players and bettors will still need to watch the official injury report and any comments from coach Dan Campbell later this week for a clearer read on his status.
Disclaimer
This injury update is based on game footage, broadcast reports, beat writer observations, and postgame analysis involving Penei Sewell of the Detroit Lions. The team has not yet released a final medical diagnosis. Player availability may change depending on practice participation and official injury reports. Fans and fantasy players should monitor updates from the Lions and comments from head coach Dan Campbell for confirmation.
