With Jason Fox back at practice, Detroit Lions may have battle at right tackle

Now that Jason Fox is healthy, the Detroit Lions have a decision to make at right tackle.

Fox won the starting job with a strong camp, but pulled his groin in the first quarter of the Lions’ season-opening win over the Minnesota Vikings and missed most of September.

Corey Hilliard played well in Fox’s absence, starting the last three games at right tackle, but Fox practiced without limitations the last two days and both players have taken reps with the first-team offense this week.

“I don’t have any comment on depth charts and stuff like that,” Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. “I’ll let you guys read into or comment on that. I’d caution you on just with the stuff that you guys are watching in practice.”

Fox worked with the starting offensive line during skeleton drills today, the first time he’s done so since returning to practice last Wednesday. He said he wasn’t too rusty from his time off and felt “good” at practice overall.

“In every week and even in every game, you try to get into a rhythm,” Fox said. “You try to get a flow. That’s what you’re trying to establish every week, every game. That’s just what I’ve got to get back to.”

The Lions don’t have any hard and fast rules about starters keeping or losing their jobs because of injuries, but the offensive line has been a bright spot so far this season allowing just two sacks in four games, the fewest in the NFL.

Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said he’s not worried about the line losing whatever continuity it’s developed should the Lions start Fox over Hilliard in Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.

“The guys all understand, I think, kind of how it works,” Linehan said. “We make decisions on Saturday evenings as to who’s going to play and all that stuff, but we had a really good dynamic through off-season and preseason, Jason played very well. So whatever we decide to do we’re very comfortable with whoever’s out there.”


(freep.com)