Pride of Detroit
The next installment in our training camp preview series looks at the Lions’ offensive tackles.
In this installment of our Detroit Lions 2025 training camp preview series, we examine the Lions’ offensive tackles, speculate on current and future roles, and discuss how many players from this group could make the 53-man roster.
Previous training camp previews:
The Lions' starters are well established with Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Decker and All-Pro/Pro Bowl right tackle Penei Sewell, but there’s room for growth amongst their reserves.
In 2024, Dan Skipper filled the OT3 and OL6 roles, starting three games (Weeks 10, 13, and 14) for Decker at left tackle, but finding the field in every game in six offensive linemen sets. Colby Sorsdal switched back to right tackle (his college position) as the Lions' OT4, but he was only active in three games and only found the field on special teams. Giovanni Manu filled out the tackle room as OT5 but was inactive every game in what was widely regarded as a developmental year. Jamarco Jones spent the season on the practice squad, but he was called up for two of Decker’s injury games, playing four offensive snaps. Lastly, Connor Galvin, who was injured in training camp, spent the season on injured reserve.
Sewell, Decker, Sorsdal, and Manu all entered 2025 under contract, and the Lions wasted little time re-signing Skipper to a one-year deal and Jamarco Jones to a futures deal. Despite being an exclusive rights free agent, the Lions did not tender an offer to Galvin and allowed him to enter free agency. After returning their top six tackles, Detroit did not add any tackles from outside the organization.
Under the Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell regime, the Lions have consistently added offensive linemen as the season progresses. While they typically begin each season with eight to 10 offensive linemen, they’ve finished with 10 or 11 on the active roster.
Let’s take a look at what they’ve done at offensive tackle in the previous four seasons:
With starters established, the Lions' reserves will be battling it out for roster roles, and...
All eyes will be on Giovanni Manu
The Lions traded a future third-round pick in order to select Manu in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. They did this with the anticipation that he would...
