In attempting to boost an anemic running game that statistically rated as the NFL's worst in 2006, and which hasn't ranked among the top 10 in the league since 1998, the Detroit Lions are counting on tailback Kevin Jones to put his worst foot forward.
2006 Season Stats
| Rush |
Yds |
TD |
Rec |
Yds |
TD |
| 181 |
689 |
6 |
61 |
520 |
2 |
And to do so a lot sooner than most people felt he could.
The Lions on Saturday removed Jones from the active physically unable to perform (PUP) list, where he spent all of training camp and the preseason, and included him on the regular-season 53-man roster. It had been widely reported, including by ESPN.com, that Jones likely would begin the season on the reserve PUP list, which by definition would have precluded the three-year veteran from practicing or playing for at least the first six weeks of the year.
But team officials are gambling that Jones, who is rehabilitating from December surgery to repair a Lisfranc sprain to his left foot, can return to the field earlier in the year. The recent history of Lisfranc injuries, a tear of the connective tissues in the mid-foot area, indicate that they typically require a year of recovery.
Jones, who has done only individual drills during training camp, will be in pads Monday and hopes to participate in team-related segments at practice. Detroit officials will monitor him on a daily basis and feel that having Jones back at practice will allow him to regain football-type conditioning and perhaps accelerate his progress.
The decision on Jones' status for the outset of the season came after club officials convened a Friday conference call with Dr. Bob Anderson of Charlotte, the specialist who performed the foot surgery on Dec. 13. Anderson examined Jones on Thursday. The Lions' brass also included owner William Clay Ford in the decision.
Part of the decision was Anderson's appraisal that resuming practice will not further damage the standout tailback's foot.
"The surgeon assured us that his foot is healthy," coach Rod Marinelli told the Detroit Free Press on Saturday. "It's strong. There's no risk of [further] injury to that foot, to that surgery, at this point. None. Another six weeks, it really wouldn't make that much difference," he said. "Not much."
Had the Lions placed Jones on the reserve physically unable to perform list, the earliest he could have played would have been in the Oct. 21 game against Tampa Bay. There are no guarantees he will be back any sooner than that, but at least now he will have an opportunity to do so, if he can quickly work himself into game shape and suffers no physical setbacks.
Jones, who is believed to have favored the decision to resume practicing, discussed the situation with his family and his representatives. People close to Jones said he has insisted of late that he has made solid progress and feels he is nearing full recovery from an injury that he sustained on Dec. 10.
"What this allows us to do," Marinelli said, "is to get him into football condition. What happens, if you wait the next six weeks, and now you put him in pads and find he's still not ready? … You've got to get in pads. You've got to be in physical hitting condition."
For now, the Lions' starter will be fourth-year veteran
Tatum Bell, acquired from Denver in the trade which sent cornerback Dre Bly to the Broncos. He rushed for 1,025 yards in 2006. The primary backup will be former Atlanta first-round choice
T.J. Duckett, who was signed as an unrestricted free agent in the spring.
Jones, though, would provide the Lions a different dimension at the position, a back who is capable of 20 to 25 carries, but who also possesses big-play ability.
Under the stewardship of coordinator Mike Martz, the Detroit offense statistically ranked No. 7 in the league in 2006, but was last in rushing offense. That marked the second time in four seasons in which the Lions were 32nd in the NFL in rushing offense. Since 1998, when Detroit was 10th, the Lions have been in the bottom half of the league every year in rushing offense, and only once ranked higher than 20th.
"We've got to do better," said Martz last week, understating the obvious.
A healthy Jones might give them a chance.
A first-round pick in the 2004 draft, Jones has appeared in 40 games and started in all but one of them. The former Virginia Tech star has carried 608 times for 2,486 yards and 16 touchdowns, and has 109 receptions for 809 yards and three touchdowns.
Jones, 25, rushed for 1,133 yards and averaged 4.7 yards per carry in his 2004 rookie year. In the two seasons since, he has gained just 1,353 yards and averaged 3.7 yards per attempt.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.Source: ESPN.com
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