Briefly in line to take over for an injured starter, Detroit Lions reserve offensive lineman Tommy Kraemer has now been placed on IR.
When Halapoulivaati Vaitai was placed on IR 10 days ago, Tommy Kraemer was originally listed as the Week 1 starting right guard for the Detroit Lions. Then he missed practice with a back injury of his own, and the team started looking into multiple options to replace Vaitai.
Logan Stenberg ultimately got the nod, in his first NFL start at the guard spot opposite the one he played (and played well in) during the preseason. Kraemer’s status was worth wondering about heading into Week 2 against the Washington Commanders, even if it was natural to assume he’d be iffy.
On Thursday he Lions place Kraemer on IR, and guard Kayode Awosika was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster.
Awosaki was just signed on Wednesday off of the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad.
Detroit Lions offensive line being hit hard by injuries
Vaitai and now Kraemer are on IR. But three of the other four projected five starting offensive lineman besides Vaitai are banged up too. Center Frank Ragnow has added a foot issue to the groin injury he already had, while left tackle Taylor Decker popped up with a calf injury and left guard Jonah Jackson has a finger injury.
Decker was out at practice on Thursday though, so that’s a good thing.
Right tackle Penei Sewell is the only Lions’ starting offensive lineman who’s not dealing with some kind of injury right now. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press might be on to something.
As for Kraemer, he will not be available for at least the next four games and the earliest he could return is Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys. And even if he has surgery like Vaitai did, he may not necessarily be immediately ruled out for the season.