Lions running back Sione Vaki found himself in an unusual predicament this week as a bizarre injury sidelined him during training camp.
Dan Campbell, the team’s head coach, shared with the media on Tuesday that the third-year player suffered a broken nose and an eye injury after an unexpected accident during Monday’s practice, which will keep him off the field for a while.
“We’re optimistic about his recovery; his vision should return to normal soon,” Campbell assured. “He won’t be participating today, as we want him to rest and recuperate. We believe he’ll be fine, but he needs some time to heal right now.”
Campbell described the incident as “one of those rare occurrences,” noting the surprise of a hand managing to bypass the facemask. “It was truly unbelievable,” he added.
In his first two years, Vaki primarily contributed to special teams, but for his third season, he aims to prove himself as a valuable asset to the offensive lineup.
With Jahmyr Gibbs holding out for a new contract and not practicing, Vaki was seeing some first-team reps alongside Isiah Pacheco.
The Lions signed veteran running back Raheem Blackshear on Tuesday.
They also had three other running backs in for a tryout, the most prominent of which was former first-rounder Clyde Edwards-Helaire, alongside Hassan Haskins and Kylin James.
Pacheco, Jacob Saylors, Jabari Small, and Kye Robichaux are the other running backs at practice.
Pacheco had been the starter in camp with Gibbs not practicing, and Campbell mentioned Saylors and Small when discussing who could take on more reps and potentially earn a role in camp in the absence of Vaki.
Vaki, 25, was drafted by the Lions 132nd overall in the fourth round of the 2024 draft after two seasons at Utah.