Ebron, Ngata Out Against Bears Sunday; Bell, Ihedigbo, Riddick All Questionable
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
Tight end Eric Ebron and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata will both miss the Lions' game against the Bears on Sunday. Safety James Ihedigbo and running backs Joqiue Bell and Theo Riddick are all questionable.
Ebron injured his knee against the Seahawks, then told ESPN's Josina Anderson that he expected to miss three weeks. But he returned to practice this week and has been limited ever since, often running with trainers off to the side.
As for Ngata, he has been on and off the injury report virtually all season, and is dealing with a calf injury now. He hasn't practiced all week.
Bell missed the entire preseason with a knee injury, and is now dealing with an ankle issue that kept him out of the games against Seattle and Arizona. He's struggled to find a rhythm on the field this season, and has only 22 rushing yards in the three games he's played.
"It looked like it was really, really good when he first came back and then you get in the ballgame and it was just different and he wasn't quite where he would like to be or we'd like to have him from that standpoint," head coach Jim Caldwell said of Bell. "So I do think that, more so than anything else, is just getting him where he can sustain it for an extended period of time and that's what we've been working on the last couple of weeks along with, obviously, the recuperation, healing, treatment and all of those kinds of things."
"I was able to run and go forward in progress without any setbacks so it was good," Bell said of this week's practice. "I'm getting there."
Riddick first appeared on the injury report Thursday, with a groin injury. Caldwell, per his usual stance, wouldn't comment on what had happened, or the nature of the injury. But it could be a big blow to the Lions' already struggling offense if Riddick doesn't play. Although the running back only has two rushing attempts on the year, he's been integral in the pass game, and is second on the team in receptions, with 30 for 228 yards and two touchdowns.
Ihedigbo, who leads the team this year in tackles (34), is dealing with a quad injury but did return to practice Friday on a limited basis.
Defensive end Jason Jones (knee), cornerback Darius Slay (hip), defensive end Darryl Tapp (ankle), wide receiver Golden Tate (hip), offensive tackle LaAdrian Waddle (knee) and offensive guard Larry Warford (ankle) are all listed as probable for Sunday's game.
Warford has dealt with ankle injuries on and off, and has yet to have a fully healthy week since the preseason.
"He's a guy that packs a punch in there," Caldwell said of Warford. "He's a good-sized guy that has power and he's got experience and he's also certainly played against a lot of guys who we're going to play against here in the future. So I think he adds us a little bit more girth in there and a little bit more experience as well."
