A timetable for Lions left tackle Taylor Decker's return to the football field has emerged.
The good news? Decker isn't out for the season. The bad news? The timeline is measured in months, not weeks.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Decker tore his labrum when he hurt his shoulder during practice and is expected to miss four to six months.
#Lions LT Taylor Decker, who had surgery this week, suffered a torn labrum, source said. Time table is 4-6 months. Could start season on PUP
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 9, 2017
The news is noteworthy because the Lions did not attach a timeline for Decker's return when they announced that he'd undergone shoulder surgery. Now, we know how long they'll be without their first-round pick from last year. Using the timeline Rapoport reported, the earliest Decker could return is October and the latest he could return is December.
Obviously, this is a devastating blow for the Lions. They could try to replace Decker with either Cornelius Lucas or Joe Dahl, both of whom reside on the Lions' roster, but they might be better off signing a free agent. At this point, not many good options exist on the open market, but veterans like King Dunlap and Ryan Clady are available.
Before losing Decker, the Lions' offensive line was shaping up nicely considering they lured guard T.J. Lang away from the Packers and added tackle Ricky Wagner this offseason. Last year -- his first in the NFL -- Decker allowed five sacks in 655 passing plays, according to Pro Football Focus.
