PHOENIX – Following veteran left tackle Taylor Decker's release this offseason, Lions head coach Dan Campbell is leaning toward making All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell his new LT.
"If you're asking me, I'd like to move him," Campbell said this week at Annual League Meetings.
"We are ready to do that, if need be. I don't want to say right now I'm going to commit to that, but we are ready to do that."
Sewell played left tackle in college at Oregon before moving to the right side upon joining the Lions as a 2021 first-round draft pick. While Sewell has played most of his NFL career at right tackle, he did make eight starts on the left side as a rookie filling in for Decker.
"All he wants is a couple of days to work his left-handed stance a little bit," Campbell said of Sewell. "It's a little bit like riding a bike for him. He'll be fine. He'll bank some reps and be able to do it. He gives us that flexibility."
After thinking about it this offseason, Campbell said having an All-Pro player like Sewell covering quarterback Jared Goff’s blind side is a security blanket he likes.
"Just knowing that Sewell is back there — what Decker's been able to do for all those years you'd see some of those where he's able to anchor and Goff (and Decker) are back-to-back and he makes those throws," Campbell said. "He steps up and there's a security blanket there subconsciously. I just think, to know who's back there and to feel like, 'OK, even if I feel that linebacker, I'm good.' I just think it brings a little extra security."
View photos of Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell.
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) before an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 in Baltimore. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 in Baltimore. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 in Baltimore. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) and Detroit Lions offensive lineman Tate Ratledge (69) during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) celebrates with Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) and Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025 in Kansas City, MO. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025 in Landover, Md. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) and Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) celebrate after a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025 in Landover, Md. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) before an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
The Lions signed veteran tackle Larry Borom in free agency to compete for a starting job this fall but most of his work has come at right tackle. The ability to be flexible with Sewell gives the Lions the opportunity to start the best two tackles, whether that's Sewell and Borom, Sewell and an upcoming draft pick or Sewell and another pairing.
"It's big," Campbell said. "You don't get that everywhere with every player. It also shows how special [Sewell] is. And he's done it. He's done that before and played left before. There will be a little rust maybe at first. He's going to be fine. The guy is phenomenal and he's going to work on it until he gets it the way he wants it, where it feels like the right side."
