After an early exit from Monday’s practice, Lions guard Halipoulivaati Vatai was on the field for joint practice at Colts’ camp on Wednesday without apparent further issue.
On Monday, it was noticed (but not strictly seen) by on-site reporters that Detroit Lions guard Halipoulivaati Vatai left practice early. With no practice on Tuesday, the next indication one way or the other regarding Detroit’s starting right guard wouldn’t come until they were on the field Wednesday at Indianapolis Colts’ camp for joint practices.
And visual proof of Vaitai’s presence (No. 72 in the foreground, if it’s unclear).
Lions head coach Dan Campbell was relatively short and sweet regarding Vaitai ahead of the first joint practice against the Colts.
He should be good,” Campbell said of Vaitai. “All, good. He had a little (back) spasm, but he’s good.”
Vaitai was taken off the field Monday as a precaution due to a back spasm. Any kind of back issue is never to be taken lightly, but it does not appear to be a concern.
Halapoulivaati Vaitai avoided major injury, Lions have offensive line intact
Vaitai’s unexplained early exit from practice on Monday certainly had some Lions fans saying “can’t we have nice things?”
The Lions are lined up to have one of the best offensive lines in the league, as long as the starting five (left to right) of Taylor Decker, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow, Vaitai and Penei Sewell are healthy. As noted plenty previously, here and elsewhere, the aforementioned five guys did not play a single snap together last year.
The Lions starting offensive line showed how good it can be on the first drive of the preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons. Joint practices and the second preseason game against the Colts will be a strong test, as a full ramp up before the regular season starts since they aren’t likely to play in the preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The priority will be making sure all five starting offensive lineman are healthy heading into Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles, with Decker’s late preseason injury last year as something to be remembered.