Logan Stenberg does not have a cool story to tell his kids one day about the first injury he suffered in his NFL career. In fact, the third-year Detroit Lions offensive lineman joked Thursday it was “embarrassing” how he tore the MCL in his left knee last October.
“Field goal,” Stenberg said. “I was the end. Somebody just landed on me sideways and I heard it pop and that was it.”
Stenberg saw limited action as the Lions’ eighth lineman last season, playing primarily on special teams.
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He played four offensive snaps in the Lions’ first six games, but those who saw him practice every day and play in the preseason swear he was one of the Lions’ most improved players after barely seeing the field as a rookie.
Cleared in April to resume full football activities, Stenberg took first-team reps at left guard in Jonah Jackson’s absence at minicamp practice Wednesday and is in line to be a key reserve on the Lions’ potentially standout offensive line this fall.
“You feel like you kind of have lost time, I guess, especially (when you get hurt) in the middle of a season where you’ve kind of been working up to this for years, and I just quit looking at it that way,” Stenberg said. “This is an obstacle that I have. I went and I conquered it. I got it fixed, rehab was all good and now I’m back out here with the same goal in mind.”
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Known for his nasty demeanor in college, Stenberg was admittedly raw in his technique as a rookie.
He impressed coaches with his physical play last preseason, though, and served as the team’s top backup interior lineman in the weeks immediately after Frank Ragnow was lost to season-ending foot surgery.
Ragnow said he and Stenberg were rehab buddies last fall, working out daily in the weight room and commiserating over their injuries.
“I think just like the years of experience have really helped him,” Ragnow said. “And me and Logan kind if grinded together when we were both hurt so we got close, but he’s got an incredible work ethic. He’s a pretty strong, explosive dude and he’s really starting to put together the football stuff, like the terminology, understanding defenses and all that. He’s taken a huge leap, I think, at that.”
Stenberg said he’s become a better all around player thanks to the tutelage of Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley and with the guidance of Ragnow and some of the Lions’ other veteran lineman.
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“Coming out of college I was more of a mauler, just kind of overpowering guys and getting my way that way,” he said. “Coming out on this field is a little different story, as you know, so learning how to use my leverage and my hands has really helped me a lot over the past couple years, so I’m looking forward to just continue building off of what I had started last year and go from there.”
Stenberg, who has attended every day of the Lions’ formal offseason program this spring, said his goal is to start on the Lions offensive line this fall.
That won’t be easy as Lions’ return all five offensive line starters from last season, including veteran guards Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Jackson, a Pro Bowler last year, plus top reserves Evan Brown and Matt Nelson. But Stenberg is more prepared than ever to make it happen.
“It feels great to be back out here,” Stenberg said. “When you’re in the midst of an injury and rehab and everything, it feels like it’s so far away and now that it’s finally here, it’s great. Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, so I’m just happy that I’m healthy and out here getting to compete with the guys.”
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.