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Detroit Lions RT Penei Sewell leaves training with foot injury

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The Detroit Lions concluded their final full practice of training camp on Wednesday with an intra-team scrimmage in which their core players, who are not expected to play in Saturday's final preseason game, did a good job.

It was a lively practice with big shots, great moves and simulated crowd noise – until it all fizzled out when Penei Sewell was sidelined with a foot injury.

“When Penei went down, I was like, 'Ah, not Penei,' because that's our best offensive lineman,” Lions safety Brian Branch said. “And hopefully it wasn't anything bad or anything. I don't think it was, so we're just praying.”

Sewell was injured on the third play of the game after the Lions returned from the locker room and a simulated halftime. He sat briefly on the floor after blocking an incomplete pass from Jared Goff and was tended to by trainers before limping to a bench on the sideline.

There, he took off his shoe and sock while the trainers examined his left foot. A few plays later, Sewell hobbled into the locker room under his own power with a trainer in tow.

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The Lions said the All-Pro right tackle was being evaluated for a foot injury.

“You always worry about a guy like Penei, but that's also the reality of this league,” said second-year tackle Colby Sorsdal, who replaced Sewell on the first team. “Nobody's God out there, and as much as we want Penei to be God … anything can happen at any time, so you just have to go when it's your turn.”

Sewell, 23, is one of the Lions' most irreplaceable assets. He has started 50 of a possible 51 games at left and right tackle over the past three seasons. He has played every offensive snap over the past two years, made two consecutive Pro Bowls and signed a four-year, $112 million contract extension in the offseason that made him the highest-paid offensive tackle in football.

The Lions have been cautious with injuries this preseason, and Lions coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday he expects most of his starting players to be ready for the team's season opener on Sept. 8 against the Los Angeles Rams.

Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring), Sam LaPorta (hamstring), Kevin Zeitler (shoulder), Terrion Arnold (chest) and backup tackle Dan Skipper (ankle) are among those who did not practice Wednesday. Running back Craig Reynolds also left Wednesday's practice game with what the Lions called an injury to the lower half of his body.

Contact Dave Birkett at [email protected]Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

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