Lions suffer big loss with injury to pass rusher Hyder

Aug 15, 2017 - 3:33 AM ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions didn't do much to address what many saw as a significant need at defensive end this offseason, signing career backup Cornelius Washington in free agency and adding rookie Patrick O'Connor in the seventh round.

Now, they could be regretting that decision.

Kerry Hyder tore the Achilles tendon in his left leg in the Lions' preseason opener Sunday, leaving the team without its starting left end and with another big question mark on the defensive line.

Top pass rusher Ziggy Ansah remains on the physically unable to perform list with a leg injury that's lingered since last year. Washington has practiced sporadically this summer because of a sprained ankle. And Armonty Bryant, who had three sacks in five games as a situational pass rusher, is both returning from November knee surgery and suspended for the first four games of the regular season.

With Hyder, who led the Lions with eight sacks last year, headed for injured reserve, the Lions' top pass rushers are currently unproven second-year end Anthony Zettel, O'Connor and undrafted rookies Jeremiah Valoaga and Alex Barrett.

"(Players) understand that some things, as unfortunate as they are, they're going to happen, and particularly in our game, so there has to be someone else that'll be able to step up and play for you," Lions HEAD coach Jim Caldwell said. "And often times we look at different teams, there's usually somebody that comes that's not on your team initially that comes from somewhere else that comes in to do a great job for you, so that's consistent. There's kid of an ebb and flow throughout our game."

Hyder, in fact, was a surprise contributor for the Lions last year after spending most of the 2015 season on the practice squad. He had two sacks off the bench in the season opener, and saw his role expand quickly thereafter as Ansah suffered a high ankle sprain in the season's second game.

Ansah is expected to return before the start of the regular season, and when healthy he's one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. But the Lions could be counting on one or more rookies in their pass-rushing rotation early, and they'll be mining the waiver wire for upgrades as roster cutdown day approaches.

"Obviously, you're going to miss a guy like Kerry," Caldwell said. "He's an outstanding player for us, been tough, and those kinds of things. But just like anything else, we've got to find a way and I think we've got a number of young guys that are great candidates in that regard. We've got some older guys that are going to have to step up and play. So that's kind of how we approach it."



STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

PLAYER NOTES

--LB/DE Brandon Copeland suffered a torn pectoral muscle and is expected to miss the year. One of the Lions' most reliable special-teams players, Copeland was vying for the starting strong-side linebacker job with Antwione Williams. He faces a four-to-six-month recovery after surgery, and won't be eligible to return from injured reserve if the Lions don't keep him on their active roster through September cuts.

--WR Kenny Golladay has been generating plenty of buzz this summer, and he showed why with a big performance Sunday against the Colts. Golladay caught first-half touchdown passes of 23 and 15 yards from Jake Rudock, and finished as the team's leading receiver with 53 yards. A third-round pick out of Northern Illinois, Golladay has practiced almost exclusively with the second-team offense to this point in training camp but he's expected to contribute as a red-zone and deep threat this fall.

"For one game, I'm not certainly making any pronouncements about how good he's going to be," head coach Jim Caldwell said. "He's got to play, he's got to play well, and he's got to keep practicing. He's got to keep getting better."

--T Greg Robinson has moved ahead of Cyrus Kouandjio in the battle to replace Taylor Decker at left tackle. Robinson played the entire first half against the Colts and did not allow a sack. He's had his ups and downs this summer, but has been more consistent of late. Kouandjio, who like Robinson joined the Lions on the final day of their offseason program, did not play against the Colts for undisclosed reasons. He has missed some practice time this summer after undergoing January hip surgery.

--RB Ameer Abdullah played one series against the Colts, his first action since undergoing Lisfranc surgery last September. Abdullah had one carry for two yards and caught a 14-yard pass before leaving. Backup RB Theo Riddick did not play against the Colts and remains in a red no-contact jersey at practice.