By Blessing 
Dan Campbell Offers Mixed Review After Giovanni Manu’s First NFL Start
The Detroit Lions handed second-year offensive tackle Giovanni Manu his first-ever NFL regular-season start on Sunday, filling in for injured left tackle Taylor Decker against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Manu, a 2024 fourth-round pick from Canada, showed flashes of the raw potential that drew the Lions to him during the draft — but also revealed that he’s still developing at the pro level.
After the game, Lions head coach Dan Campbell provided an honest and balanced assessment of Manu’s debut, calling it “up and down.”
> “I thought he did some good things in the run game. I thought there were some play passes that he did a good job,” Campbell told reporters. “Then there were some that, man, they weren’t good. And he’ll learn from, he’s got to learn from. That’s what you look forward to. You don’t want to have a couple plays where your quarterback gets hit. But at the same token, that’s probably the best way to learn too because you don’t want that to happen again.”
The most glaring mistake of Manu’s first start came early in the game when he allowed Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson to beat him off the edge. Hendrickson struck quarterback Jared Goff as he released the ball, causing a fumble recovered by Cincinnati.
Later in the fourth quarter, Hendrickson added another sack. This time, Manu blocked down the line while tight end Brock Wright attempted to take on the Bengals defender. Although Manu drew some criticism for the play, it appeared to be more of a design and assignment issue than an individual lapse.
Despite allowing four total sacks, Detroit’s offensive line helped power a strong ground attack that produced 118 rushing yards. The Lions offense also exploded for 37 points, signaling that Manu’s struggles didn’t derail the overall game plan.
Goff Defends His Young Lineman
After the game, Campbell maintained a measured tone when discussing Manu — focusing on growth and learning rather than harsh critique. Quarterback Jared Goff, however, went a step further to defend his teammate, emphasizing the challenges that come with a first NFL start.
> “I thought he fought his tail off. It’s hard, man. Everybody’s first game, there’s going to be mistakes made,” Goff said. “That’s what I tried to tell him. ‘Dude, you’re not going to be perfect. You’re going to make mistakes. It’s ok. Just as long as the next one is better, and the next one you learn.’”
Goff added that he admired Manu’s effort and attitude throughout the game.
> “I thought he fought hard. I know there’s a couple he’d like back. But I thought he did some good things in the run game. Even in the pass game, there were some good moments too. But he fought.”
While the sacks stood out statistically, analysts saw positives in Manu’s performance beyond the obvious mistakes.
According to Al Karsten of SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit, the young lineman showed potential despite his inexperience.
> “He got help—with tight ends aligned to his side frequently and 42% of dropbacks coming off play action—but outside of two glaring mistakes, Manu allowed just the two pressures and looked more than serviceable in the run game,” Karsten wrote. “37 points scored by the offense in his first real game action is a win.”
Could Manu Start Again in Week 6?
The question now is whether Manu will start again next week when the Lions visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.
When asked, Campbell didn’t commit to naming Manu as the starter, leaving the door open for competition.
> “We’ll see. We’re going to look at everything here,” Campbell said. “Certainly, Skip’s back. So, we’ll look at Skip. We brought Devin Cochran today. He’s a candidate. And then we’ll see where Decker is at. Obviously, that’s always going to be our first choice.”
Campbell also clarified that Taylor Decker will not return until he’s healthier, explaining that the veteran tackle had been playing through a shoulder injury that was showing “diminishing returns.”
“I don’t want to put Decker out there if it means we get a couple games and then we don’t have him for the rest of the year. It makes no sense. We’ll play this smart. We’ll do what’s right,” Campbell said. “If it’s not him, then it’s next man up. Whether that is Manu again, we’ll see. Or is it one of those other two guys I just mentioned?”
Manu’s debut may not have been perfect, but it offered a valuable learning experience for a developing player with raw tools and upside. The Lions appear committed to patience — a strategy that could pay off down the line if Manu continues to grow under Campbell’s leadership.