Lions Move To Bolster Backfield Depth
Coach Jim Schwartz already had a borderline crisis on his hands along the injury-ravaged offensive line, and now he has lost one of the key ballcarriers expected to run behind that unit before the first preseason game has even been played.
Rookie running back Mikel Leshoure went down with a season-ending torn Achilles' tendon Monday. He had been drawing raves from teammates on both sides of the ball for his rugged style and surprising burst through the hole.
The plan was to use the 5-foot-11, 233-pounder as a complement to Jahvid Best. That role now likely goes to veteran Maurice Morris.
Leshoure's injury also opens the door for Ian Johnson, who was facing an uphill battle to unseat Morris for a roster spot. Johnson has been impressive, and now could land the third running back role if he is able to flash during exhibition games. If he doesn't, the Lions also moved quickly to add veterans Jerome Harrison and Mike Bell, who were traded for each other in a deal between Cleveland and Philadelphia last season.
And then there are the issues along the line.
Left tackle Jeff Backus, who has 160 straight starts under his belt, will miss most of training camp with a torn pectoral muscle. Starting right tackle Gosder Cherilus, coming off microfracture knee surgery, hasn't practiced since the first day because of lingering soreness.
Jason Fox, in his second season, was getting all the first-team reps at left tackle before leaving practice Sunday with a foot injury. He was in a boot afterward and could miss significant time.
That left veterans Corey Hilliard and Tony Ugoh, recently-signed Isaac Sowells and rookie seventh-round pick Johnny Culbreath as the only healthy tackles in camp.
"Obviously, it's not ideal, but it's early yet," Schwartz said. "The guys that are healthy are going to get a lot of reps and they have to make the most of them."
General manager Martin Mayhew said he would continue to look for ways to upgrade the roster, with perhaps a keener eye on offensive linemen.
"We are looking to upgrade the roster at several positions," Mayhew said. "We want to improve our depth across the board. With the exception of quarterback we could probably make a move at any position to make ourselves better."
Injuries have been the only negative through an otherwise spirited and high-tempo first week. The Lions have yet to get a look at their top two draft picks. Defensive tackle Nick Fairley, the 13th overall pick, will miss all of camp with a broken left foot and second-round pick wide receiver Titus Young has been out with left stiffness.
Fairley injured his foot on the second day during a special teams drill. He had surgery in Charlotte, N.C. on Wednesday.
"I look at it this way, he missed all of the OTAs and the offseason work," Schwartz said. "Now he has a chance to make all that stuff back up - all the classroom work. He can get a good base and he can still lift."
Mayhew, though, isn't trying to fool anybody. He knows it's going to be a while before he gets the impact he was hoping for from his top two picks.
"With the rookies (across the league), you are going to see a lot of those guys not make an immediate impact who would have had the ability to make an immediate impact with an offseason," he said. "It's going to be a different year for rookies."
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