Detroit Lions Weblog

Kevin Jones Has Knee Surgery

The details about Kevin Jones’ knee injury have been very scant, beginning from the time of his injury in the game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Since that point, not much has been mentioned in regards to the severity of the injury, and the team’s expectations about the length of his recovery, etc.

The veil of secrecy surrounding Jones’ injury, and the fact that he eventually had surgery, does not bode well for the Lions running game in ‘08, especially considering that the promotion of Jim Colletto likely means that the Lions intend to feature a more visible commitment to their running game, in an attempt to feature a more balanced offensive attack.

Fast forward a bit here, the Lions could find themselves featuring a backfield of Brian Calhoun and Aveion Cason as their running backs, in an offense with a supposed newfound commitment to the running game. Calhoun and Cason have many skills to offer the team, but pounding the rock in a more controlled, conventional-style running attack would not figure among them. I believe that re-signing T.J. Duckett will, of necessity, become a major priority for the Lions. However, Duckett may have seen enough of the Lions offense last season, even with his limited role within it, to already know that he doesn’t want to return.

At this point, the Lions may actually be forced, with all of their many pressing personnel needs, to consider adding another running back in the draft or free agency, at a time when their defense is almost assuredly going to have a near complete personnel turnover this off season. I am quite certain, in spite of Matt Millen’s failings as a team executive, that he is very empathetic to what George Armstrong Custer must have been feeling during his “last stand”.