ALLEN PARK, Mich. – The Detroit Lions brought former first-round pick Gosder Cherilus in for a visit earlier this week, but Lions coach Jim Caldwell said Friday he is comfortable with where the team is at right tackle.
If the Lions were to sign Cherilus, he would likely be in line for the right tackle spot currently open because of a knee injury to LaAdrian Waddle. There is no timetable for Waddle’s return and the third-year pro from Texas Tech is starting training camp on the PUP list.
So who will the Lions turn to? Caldwell praised Cornelius Lucas on Friday. Lucas filled in for Waddle when he was injured last season.
“All in all, we’re going to be all right,” Caldwell said. “Lucas has played a lot of football for us and played well. He had his ups and downs, but he played well for us. We’ve got some young guys who are going to be all right, too.”
Lucas said last season he learned a lot about how to shift to right tackle from left tackle, where he played his entire career at Kansas State. A lot of the adjustments had to do with footwork and assimilating himself to the rote memorization he had from years of practice on the left side. And at least when camp starts, Lucas is the veteran -- if you can call him that -- at right tackle with Waddle out.
The young guys Caldwell is referring to are third-year pro Michael Williams, who converted from tight end to offensive tackle last season, and rookie Corey Robinson. Xavier Proctor, who moved from defensive tackle to offensive tackle during spring workouts, could be another option.
