When Detroit Lions rookie defensive tackle Nick Fairley hurt his foot on Monday, the thinking was that the injury was not serious. Fairley and Lions head coach Jim Schwartz thought the injury was nothing more than a tweak, and X-rays on Fairley's foot were negative.
After missing Tuesday's practice and being seen with a walking boot on his injured foot, it appears as though Fairley's injury could be more serious than originally thought. Schwartz said more tests will be done on Fairley's foot to determine what exactly is wrong, and he also said that he's not sure if this is a long-term or short-term injury.
Schwartz declined to put a timetable on Fairley's return on Monday, but he did say that the Lions were hoping to get the 2011 first-round pick back soon. That likely won't be happening if Fairley has a stress fracture, which is "possible," according to Chris McCosky. The Lions at this point have to be hoping Fairley severely tweaked his foot and there is no damage beyond that. A stress fracture would not be good news at all.
Other players that missed Tuesday's practice are Gosder Cherilus, Titus Young, Jack Williams, Alphonso Smith, Jeff Backus and Zack Follett, who received a day off. Maurice Morris left the practice session with a hand injury.