The Detroit Lions are expecting help to come on both sides of the ball on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, as the team should have cornerback Chris Houston and running back Mikel Leshoure see the field for the first time this season. Houston is returning from injury, while Leshoure just wrapped up a two-game suspension from the NFL, which came immediately after his recovery from a ruptured Achilles tendon, which kept him out all of his rookie season.
Leshoure saw some action in two preseason games this year, but hasn't made his regular season debut since Detroit made him their second-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Kevin Seifert of ESPN takes a look at what Lions fans can expect in his debut:
I don't think there is any big mystery here. The Lions' running game has underperformed for so long that Leshoure will be a hero if he simply does what any above-average running back does: Get some yards on his own.
In short: excitement is running high but expectations could be all over the place at this point. Kevin Smith has been serviceable for the Lions, but he was a player that was cut when the team was ready to proceed with Jahvid Best as the feature back. Best began the season on the physically unable to perform list, so Smith was re-signed and has been so-so thus far. It will be interesting to see what dynamic Leshoure brings to the offense, but if he can help move the chains more often than naught, he'll be well-received in Detroit.
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