Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki missed a big opportunity to audition for a roster spot, missing Saturday’s preseason game after suffering a minor injury.
The setback could be costly for Vaki, who is seen as a fringe roster candidate due to his struggles with injuries. Lions head coach Dan Campbell sent Vaki a message after Saturday’s preseason 17-13 win over the Washington Commanders, saying the team wanted to see him on the field.
Sione Vaki Gets Message After Another Injury Setback
Speaking to reporters after the game, Campbell revealed that Vaki suffered a late injury and was held out of the game.
“He woke up yesterday, and he just had kind of a knot in his back here,” Campbell said. “It’s not major, but it’s enough to where, it’s one of those bad spasms to where we were hoping we could get it out of there. Give him some stuff to hopefully loosen it out. We ran out of time with it.”
Campbell added that the coaching staff wanted to see Vaki on the field, but said he would have more chances to play for a roster spot in the coming week.
“Now the good news, we would have loved to have seen him. I told him that. He wanted to play,” Campbell said. “But also, he got some really good work, coming off of a broke nose, a punched out eye. I’m like, ‘I think we’re good Vaki for a little bit here. We’ll get this to calm down. He’ll be ready to practice this week, I would anticipate. I think we’ll be okay there.”
Sione Vaki Faces Tough Roster Prediction
The missed time could be costly for Vaki, who served as a reserve running back and special teams regular. SI.com writer John Maakaron predicted Vaki would not make the final 53-man roster, projecting him to fall near the bottom of the pack due to his struggles with injuries.
“Sione Vaki, while being a top special teams player, cannot only hang his hat on impressing Dave Fipp,” Maakaron wrote. “He is often injured and not a player the team can rely upon, especially given how well Jacob Saylors has performed throughout the preseason.”
Maakaron had already sounded a warning for Vaki earlier this summer, when he missed time with a broken nose and poked eye after a defender’s hand came under his facemask during a play.
“Another fluke injury will sideline the young running back for the foreseeable future. Vaki cannot seem to sustain any positive momentum on the field without then becoming injured and missing time,” Maakaron reported. “Vaki’s stock is falling and falling quick, given how reliable Jacob Saylors has prove to be, especially in his special teams role.”
Lions HC Dan Campbell Makes Statement on Struggling Veteran RB