Penei Sewell to miss minicamp due to positive COVID test

Penei Sewell was selected seventh overall in this year's draft. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Lions' Penei Sewell to miss rookie minicamp due to positive COVID-19 test

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 5/12/21

Detroit Lions new offensive tackle Penei Sewell won't be participating in this weekend's rookie minicamp, after all.

Sewell, selected by Detroit with the seventh pick of this year's draft, confirmed via Twitter that he tested positive for COVID-19 over this past weekend:

Found out this past weekend I tested positive for COVID. Really wish I was heading to my new home today and able to be at mini-camp with my new teammates and coaches. Look forward to getting out to the D as soon as I’m cleared!
— Penei Sewell (@peneisewell58) May 12, 2021

According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Sewell will have to isolate for a minimum of 10 days and then test negative for the virus before he can participate in any voluntary workouts. It's believed the Lions will start Sewell at right tackle to help protect new quarterback Jared Goff.

"When I saw we took Penei, I know the staff was fired up and so was I," Goff said last week about Detroit's draft decision. "Obviously, as a quarterback, anytime you get help upfront that's always good."

Goff added it was "a nice vote of confidence obviously for me" that the Lions used the first-round selection on Sewell rather than on a rookie quarterback. Detroit ultimately spent no picks on a signal-caller this year.

More must-reads: