Lions HC Dan Campbell Explains All-Pro's Position Change

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell was ready to shake up the roster after missing the playoffs last season.

The Lions lost several starters from a core group that made the NFC Championship Game in 2023. One of the more consequential cap cuts was left tackle Taylor Decker. The Lions saved $11.6 million by releasing 2016 first-round pick, but they needed to reshuffle the offensive line after losing a player who made 140 starts and a Pro Bowl appearance in 2024.

On Friday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell explained how All-Pro tackle Penei Sewell has been working on changing his position from the right side to the left during OTAs. Campbell thinks the transition will look seamless when the regular season starts, but noted there will be things for Sewell to learn on the left side.

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“Good. He’s over there, he’s been really since — he’s been working it even being back home before we started offseason, once I gave him the word,” Campbell said, via NFL Media. “So, it’ll be like riding a bike for him. Will it be things he’ll have to learn? Yeah, of course there will be. But I mean, he has played left. That’s muscle memory.

“He played a lot of left in college and for us in ’21, those first few games. And he still took reps at left even over the last five years, so that’ll be seamless. That’ll be seamless. Sewell can do it all.”

Sewell, the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft, has earned four Pro Bowl appearances and first-team All-Pro honors three times at right tackle. Now, the veteran will be tasked with protecting quarterback Jared Goff’s blindside.

The Lions have a solution to replace Sewell at right tackle. Detroit took Blake Miller out of Clemson with the No. 17 pick. He earned All-ACC honors three times as a right tackle for the Tigers.

It remains to be seen if Sewell will be as effective at left tackle. Still, it makes sense for the Lions to put their best offensive lineman at the most important position on the line after releasing Decker. If Miller plays like a first-round pick, Detroit’s offense should be in good shape this fall.

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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 5:31 PM.