ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions are hoping to get back key defenders Ceedy Duce and Alim McNeill for their regular-season finale on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
Sounds like James Houston is not expected to join that mix.
“I don’t see Houston (playing) right now,” Campbell said during an interview with 97.1 The Ticket on Tuesday morning.
Houston racked up eight sacks in a seven-game rookie season last year, the most sacks by any player in that many games to open a career. He finished second among all rookies in sacks for the campaign, despite not making his debut until Thanksgiving.
Hopes soared that Houston was headed for a major role alongside Aidan Hutchinson in Year 2, but they didn’t last long. Houston broke his fibula on a special-teams play in Week 2 and underwent surgery to have a plate and four screws inserted into his leg.
He said last month he hoped to return in time to play multiple games before the start of the playoffs, but that has proved to be wishful thinking more than anything else. Houston didn’t even start practicing until last week, and it now sounds like the internal expectation is Houston needs at least another full week of practice before he’s ready to suit up.
The good news is Duce, also out since Week 2 because of a torn pec, is on track to make an incredible return to the field three months early. He’s expected to play against Minnesota, and McNeill — out the last four weeks with a knee injury — could join him, providing an excellent opportunity for two key defenders to get their football legs under them before the playoffs begin next week.
Leave a Reply