Lions running back Sione Vaki suffers ‘freak’ injury at training camp

Lions running back Sione Vaki suffers ‘freak’ injury at training camp

Lions running back Sione Vaki was the subject of a freak injury at training camp this week.

Head coach Dan Campbell told reporters Tuesday that the third-year running back broke his nose and got poked in the eye during Monday’s practice and will miss some time.

“We’re hopeful, vision should be okay in time,” Campbell said. “We’re not gonna have him here today, just gonna let him kind of recover a little but. So we think he’ll be okay. He’s just gonna need a minute here.

“Just one of those freak things, somehow a hand gets through the facemask. It was unbelievable.”

Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) practices during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Thursday, July 30, 2026. (Detroit Free Press) USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Vaki spent a good chunk of his first two years working on special teams, but is looking to show the coaching staff his capabilities on offense in his third year.

With Jahmyr Gibbs holding out for a new contract and not practicing, Vaki was seeing some first-team reps alongside Isiah Pacheco.

The Lions signed veteran running back Raheem Blackshear on Tuesday.

They also had three other running backs in for a tryout, the most prominent of which was former first-rounder Clyde Edwards-Helaire, alongside Hassan Haskins and Kylin James.


Detroit Lions running backs Jacob Saylors, Sione Vaki, and Jabari Small stretching during training camp.
Detroit Lions running back Jacob Saylors (25), running back Sione Vaki (33), and running back Jabari Small (26) stretch during Detroit Lions training camp in Allen Park, MI, on Monday, August 3, 2026. (Imagn Images. Reuters Connec) IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Pacheco, Jacob Saylors, Jabari Small, and Kye Robichaux are the other running backs at practice.

Pacheco had been the starter in camp with Gibbs not practicing, and Campbell mentioned Saylors and Small when discussing who could take on more reps and potentially earn a role in camp in the absence of Vaki.

Vaki, 25, was drafted by the Lions 132nd overall in the fourth round of the 2024 draft after two seasons at Utah.

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