Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press

It’s common practice in the NFL for teams to slowly work their rookie offensive tackles into the playing group.

The Detroit Lions did it with Riley Reiff four years ago, using him as a sixth lineman in jumbo packages before making him a starter in his second season. Last year, three of the four tackles drafted in the first round (Andrus Peat, Cedric Ogbuehi and D.J. Humphries) either played as fill-ins across the line for their teams or not at all.

New Lions general manager Bob Quinn said Monday that, despite the reluctance of some teams to play rookie pass protectors early, he does not have any reservations about using first-round pick Taylor Decker at left tackle.

“If he’s the best left tackle, then I’d be happy with it,” Quinn said at the Charlie Sanders Foundation golf outing. “It’s going to be a competition amongst a lot of players, so Taylor’s definitely right in the mix.”

Decker has taken snaps at both left and right tackle this spring, but the Lions are pushing to get him ready to play on the left side in time for the start of the regular season.

He played left tackle exclusively with the first-team offense during both of the Lions’ open organized team activity workouts in recent weeks, and he has made a positive impression on his veteran teammates.

“He’s doing good,” guard Geoff Schwartz said. “We’re doing well, as a group. I think we’re really focused on working as a unit and bringing him along. And playing next to Laken (Tomlinson), who was here last year, they’re able to work together. I think, if you watched us out there, we’re embracing the process and working hard.”

Decker’s lone competition for the left tackle job is Reiff, who held down the position the last three years. But Reiff primarily has worked at right tackle this spring, while incumbent right tackle Michael Ola has missed time with an injury.

Backup Cornelius Lucas also can play left tackle, but he’s no lock to make the roster after the Lions took three linemen in the draft: Decker, center Graham Glasgow, and guard/tackle Joe Dahl.

Quinn said the most important part of OTAs is “trying to implement the rookies with the veterans” to get a sense of how the team will look when the regular season rolls around.

“The last two weeks or so, it’s been a big transition for those guys, trying to keep up with the veterans,” Quinn said. “So they’re making progress. We’ve got a couple practices this week, then minicamp next week, so we’re getting closer.”

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett

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