Too Early To Tell If Bush, Ansah, Slay, Waddle Will Play In Monday Night Game
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
DETROIT (CBS DETROIT) - The Detroit Lions will enter next week's Monday Night Football showdown against the Baltimore Ravens with first place in the NFC North and playoff hopes at stake.
They have lost three of the last four, and to make matters even more interesting against the defending Super Bowl champions, the Lions might be playing without some key pieces of their offense and defense.
Running back Reggie Bush, whose versatility and quickness has given the Detroit offense a much needed second dimension, missed Sunday's game in Philadelphia after aggravating his injured calf during warmups. Sack specialist Ziggy Ansah left that game with a shoulder issue, while offensive tackle LaAdrian Waddle sprained an elbow.
Cornerback Darius Slay, who also missed Sunday's game, had missed practice Friday as a result of a knee injury suffered in Thursday's non-contact practice, an incident head coach Jim Schwartz described as "sort of a freak thing."
ESPN reported recently that Slay had a torn meniscus, and thought Schwartz did not confirm that, he did tell reporters Monday that Slay underwent a procedure last week.
"He did have knee surgery last Friday, Friday evening," Schwartz said. "He's just classified as week-to-week, day-to-day, whatever you want to call it. We didn't put him on injured reserve, so I think that probably answers your question without me commenting specifically on injuries."
Schwartz, always tight-lipped about injuries, said the four players might or might not be available for next week's big prime-time game against the Ravens.
"All those guys, it's really too early to tell, with Reggie, with Ziggy, with Slay, with Waddle," Schwartz said. "We'll just have to see this week how they respond. It's a big game. It's a home game. Obviously we're three games left in the year. We're at the top of our division, so every game is pretty critical.
"I'm sure those guys will do everything they can to get back on the field," Schwartz added, "but if they can't go then we'll have the next guy behind them ready to play."
