The Detroit Lions fanbase got a sample size of what Penei Sewell will bring to the Lions’ O-Line. Last Friday, Sewell made his NFL debut in the Lions’ preseason opener vs. the Buffalo Bills. Although they didn’t leave Ford Field with a victory, Sewell was excited to see some action.

“It kind of felt like when I was a little kid again,” Sewell told reporters. “Kind of getting introduced to this game…going out there and kind of just getting all the emotions out. Getting everything, I guess, re-introduced to myself again.”

“It was something I forgot about. At first, it was a little adversity.

Sewell opted out of his 2020 at Oregon due to the COVID-19 pandemic and declared for the NFL Draft. Last Friday was Sewell’s first game snap since 2019.

There was an adjustment period for Sewell during the game. He had moments where he seemed frustrated. Luckily for the Detroit Lions, Sewell has a short memory, keeping his focus on what’s next.

“It kind of goes to the mentality that I’ve picked up over the years; it’s the next play,” said Sewell. “Because at the end of the day, I can’t really change what had just happened. Just gotta focus on what’s next and go from there.”

On Monday morning, Lions head coach Dan Campbell spoke about Sewell adjusting.

“His ability to adjust, it really shows up [and] The way he’s grown,” Campbell told reporters. “There’s things that he gets beat on the day before, that man… it’s not happening the next day or the next rep. Just to be able to go out there and face a new opponent like the other day, you know. He didn’t throw his hands like he’d been, and you see him the next rep, and he does it.”

“He’s a really good athlete. He’s got the right mindset. Like he’s all business. He’s aggressive, but he’s also able to adapt quickly, especially for a rookie.”

This Saturday, the Detroit Lions will travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers in Game 2 of the preseason.

Please make no mistake about it. Penei Sewell is looking forward to it. And primarily, it’s to rectify things he felt he should’ve done against the Bills.

“Going into Game 2, I gotta get my hands right,” said Sewell. “Right now, they’re way too wide, especially going against people in the league now. So I just gotta lock in on that. [Also] fine-tune on my pad level too, getting my knee bent back, and just those two things I think will separate myself.”

Along with that, Sewell has his nerves in check. And he’s looking to prove that on Saturday.

“Now that I got that first game under my belt already, all the nerves are kind of, I guess, settled down a little bit more,” said Sewell. “I can go out there, know what to expect, somewhat, and just out there and have fun, and play fast.”

The Detroit Lions selected Penei Sewell with the 7th overall pick in this year’s NFL draft.

Follow Kory Woods on Twitter at KoryEWoods.