Halapoulivaati Vaitai's season -- and possibly his career -- is likely over. The Lions placed the veteran offensive lineman on injured reserve Tuesday after he re-aggravated the back injury that cost him all of last season, and Dan Campbell said Wednesday "it's unlikely" that Vaitai returns this season.
"Never say never, but I would say it’s probably unlikely," Campbell said.
Vaitai, 30, was the Lions' starting right guard at the beginning of the season after recovering from back surgery last September. But he injured his knee in Detroit's Week 2 loss to the Seahawks, which cost him two games, then re-injured his back in Week 8 and wasn't able to play in last last week's win over the Chargers. Graham Glasgow has replaced Vaitai and played well. It will be his job moving forward.
Vaitai pondered retirement last year after recuperating at his family's farm in Texas, where he was able to spend more time with his wife and their young children. He ultimately decided to return for another season with the Lions, but only after taking a major pay cut that voided the final year of his contract. He said this summer he wanted to play another year with Penei Sewell, the 23-year-old right tackle who calls him 'Unc,' and the rest of Detroit's offensive line.
"I can’t leave Penei," Vaitai said. "I can’t leave all my guys. I can’t leave them. I love this team a lot. I’m going to help Dan win one."
To that end, Vaitai will be sticking around, Campbell said Wednesday. He's a respected voice in the Lions' offensive line room who helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl before coming to Detroit. He can continue to help his teammates, even if he's not on the field.
"No matter what, I told him, we want him around here, he wants to be around and he’s still very much a part of us and what we are here," Campbell said.
Vaitai has had an up-and-down tenure with the Lions since signing a five-year, $45 million contract under the former regime, but he can still go out on top in Detroit.
"Look, V’s been unbelievable," Campbell said. "He really is. There’s nothing easy about the injury he’s had to come back from, then he had the knee and he’s been rehabbing this thing for a long time, he’s put in a ton of work and that’s not easy. It’s not easy at all. But he’s the type of guy who you ask him how he’s doing, he always says he’s fine. That’s just him."