CINCINNATI — Giovanni Manu started doing the math early in the week.
During a position meeting Monday, as Manu recalled, Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley told the members of his unit left tackle Taylor Decker wouldn’t be available for Sunday’s game at the Cincinnati Bengals. Decker had pushed through a shoulder injury for the season’s first four contests, but the damage his body endured on game days outweighed the recovery occurring during the week, despite the Lions holding him out of most practices.
Knowing Decker would likely be sidelined, Manu thought of top backup Jamarco Jones, who’s out for the season. He also considered longtime reserve Dan Skipper, who’s still working to come back from an injury. Options were scarce, and Manu figured he was the next man up.
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