On Thursday, the Lions ended Jason Hanson's 2010 season by placing him on injured reserve. The move comes nearly a month after Hanson injured his knee against the Jets when an opposing player rolled on his leg after a field goal. The inadvertent move resulted in a penalty that led to a Lions touchdown, but it has kept Hanson out ever since. Originally it sounded like he was gearing up to return on Thanksgiving, but that did not happen and now we won't see him again until 2011.
Surgery won't be necessary to repair Hanson's injury. Right now the problem is that the kicking motion results in great pain and his knee just needs time to heal. This move gives Hanson a head start on getting back to full health this offseason in anticipation of his 20th year in the NFL. Although the end of this season was discouraging, it serves as motivation to come back even stronger in 2011.
"I feel like I can still kick," Hanson said. "You don't get to pick to your ending, but I don't feel satisfied finishing like this. So I'll do whatever it takes to make an effort to be at my best form next year and try it again."
To fill Hanson's spot on the roster, the Lions signed cornerback Tye Hill. Kicker Dave Rayner was signed the week after Hanson suffered this injury, and it is expected that he will continue to be the Lions' kicker the rest of the season.