Dan Campbell says Penei Sewell’s move to left tackle for the 2026 season will be “seamless,” after Taylor Decker’s departure and as Sewell continues to handle the full-time transition well.
When Taylor Decker left Detroit earlier this offseason, the vacancy at left tackle didn’t linger for long. Dan Campbell’s message in recent days was direct: Penei Sewell is the answer, and the transition is already moving the way the Lions want it to.
For the 2026 season, Sewell is set to move over to left tackle. The change is noteworthy because, in the NFL, he’s primarily worked at right tackle. But Detroit isn’t making the adjustment from scratch. Sewell has history on the left side from his college days. and he has also taken spot starts for the Lions at left tackle during his first five pro seasons.
Late last week, Campbell spoke in his press conference about how that work has looked in practice. He said Sewell has handled the full-time transition well so far. describing the preparation the coaching staff started early—“even being back home before we started [the] offseason [program]. once I gave him the words.”.
Campbell framed the learning curve as familiar rather than foreign. “So, it’ll be like riding a bike for him,” he said. “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.”
The head coach pointed to Sewell’s background as proof of that muscle memory. He referenced Sewell playing on the left in college. then added that Sewell also did it in Detroit during the earlier part of his career—“for us for those in ’21. those first few games.” Campbell also emphasized that the repetition hasn’t stopped. Even over the last five years. Sewell “still took reps at left. ” making the adjustment less of a clean slate and more of a continuation.
Campbell’s conclusion was blunt and confident: “That’ll be seamless. Sewell can do it all.”
The broader picture helps explain why that confidence lands. Detroit used the No. 7 overall pick on Sewell in the 2021 draft, and he has started all 83 games he’s played. He has earned elite recognition across recent seasons as well. earning an AP first-team All-Pro in each of the last three seasons and making the Pro Bowl for each of the last four.
The Lions’ next chapter at left tackle now hinges on whether that established track record follows Sewell across the line in 2026—and Campbell’s pitch is that it won’t require a dramatic reset. The work has already been underway. the reps have already been taken. and the switch. in the Lions’ view. should feel like something Sewell has been training for all along.
Dan Campbell Penei Sewell Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker 2026 season NFL offensive line
Seamless huh… famous last words lol. I hope it’s not a whole mess next season.
Didn’t he already play left at some point? I feel like they’re acting like it’s a brand new position change like every other team. If he’s elite at tackle then it shouldn’t matter right?
“Riding a bike”??? Coaches always say that. But left tackle is where stuff goes wrong if you’re even slightly off, so I’ll believe it when I see it. Also Decker leaving doesn’t automatically mean Sewell is the answer, it just means they had to pick someone.
I swear I saw Penei at right tackle for years and now they’re like he’s secretly been left the whole time. College left, a few spot starts… cool, but games are different. If he messes up once on the left, everyone’s gonna act surprised like they didn’t know this was coming. Lions fans are gonna be nervous at the start of 2026.