Detroit Lions Weblog

Pettigrew Will be 14th Lions Player Placed Upon Injured Reserve

The Lions list of players who are on their IR list is continuing to expand. In a big blow, Brandon Pettigrew will have season-ending knee surgery, just as he was showing signs of becoming a potent and crucial element of the Lions less-than-stellar offense. If Pettigrew returns to full strength, despite my wishes that the Lions had alloted his draft pick to a position of need in April, he has proven that he could become a valuable part of the Lions offense moving forward.

The Lions lose a punishing foil to the already diminished Calvin Johnson, who due to injury and the lack of a consistent complimentary receiving threat, has seen his production impacted significantly. In Pettigrew’s place, the Lions are likely to promote TE and seventh round-draft pick Dan Gronkowski, from their practice squad.

In the interim 10 days, I would expect that the Lions are going to lick their wounds and attempt to get recuperated, while continuing to troll free agency and the waiver wire in hopes of finding some additional help for their secondary. After head coach Jim Schwartz expressed his displeasure with the performance of the team’s guards, Daniel Loper, who was injured and was promoted due to injury to Stephen Peterman, and Manny Ramirez, their offensive line could also become a personnel group where they seek immediate assistance, too.

Aside from the bounty of defensive issues that they currently have, the Lions will need to address their horrid receiving corps and their offensive line during the intervening months as this season draws to a close. If Matthew Stafford going to grow and thrive as a player, the Lions have to continue to rebuild around him, while somehow simultaneously addressing their depressingly poor defensive personnel, too.

I hate to lay a little doom and gloom at your feat, but I am going to, anyhow. After a 10-day layoff, I fully expect for the Lions to suffer back-to-back brutal beatdowns from a pair of AFC North foes, Baltimore and Cincinnati, both of which will be road games. If they make it through that ordeal, they have a minute chance for victory against the Niners and Bears, if they don’t continue to be dogged by attrition.