Pro Bowl right tackle Penei Sewell has been cleared to return from his brain injury and is back on the field at Detroit Lions practice today.
Sewell reported concussion-like symptoms after the Lions’ first padded practice of summer last Friday and spent the next four days in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Matt Nelson and Germain Ifedi took first-team reps in Sewell’s absence.
Entering his third NFL season, Sewell is considered one of the top right tackles in the NFL.
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“He’s a man on a mission,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said last week. “I feel like we’re a team on a mission, but he is a man on a mission and you talk about being wired right, a guy that comes in every day, puts in the work and he’s got so much ability, but he’s got the right attitude, too, and I think that’s what makes him dangerous if you’re the opponent. So he’s right where he needs to be.”
Rookie tight end Sam LaPorta also will return to practice after leaving Monday with an ankle injury. The Lions signed tight end Daniel Helm, who caught 20 passes for 205 yards for the Memphis Showboats of the USFL this spring.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.