Avonte Maddox injury: Lions safety likely out for season
· Yahoo Sports
ALLEN PARK — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell confirmed Monday, Sept. 21, that safety Avonte Maddox's injury in a 41-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills is a worst-case scenario.
Campbell said Maddox's foot injury will require surgery and likely will put him out for the season.
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"So, that hurts a little bit. Maddox is a good player for us, a good, solid football player," Campbell said. "I hate that for him. But that's the hand we're dealt and we move forward."
It's a devastating blow to a secondary that has had significant problems through the first two weeks. The Lions have given up 915 yards and 71 points on defense, leading to a 1-1 start. Detroit already was shorthanded at the position with Pro Bowl-caliber safeties Brian Branch (Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee) still on the shelf due to injuries sustained last season.
Campbell said general manager Brad Holmes worked out a few veteran safeties Monday morning and is scanning other teams' practice squads for "promising young players that we could potentially poach and bring in."
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the team planned to work out veterans Jordan Fuller, Jalen Mills and Mike Edwards on Monday. Mills, 32, played three games for Detroit last season.
The Lions also could look to shake up some of the existing personnel, Campbell said. Christian Izien was being used primarily in a nickel cornerback role, but has experience at safety and played six snaps in that spot after Maddox went down against the Bills. Chuck Clark, Thomas Harper and Izien likely will take on bigger roles after being part of a rotation with Maddox.
"Right now, we got Chuck and Izzy and Harper, but we need to bring in some fresh players and get a look at them," Campbell said. "Look, we're gonna do a couple of things defensively. We're gonna move some guys around. We're gonna give some guys some more opportunities because they've earned that. We got some guys in here that have earned some play time."
After a mini-bye over the weekend, the Lions now turn their attention to the New York Jets, who have the No. 13 passing offense (216.5 yards per game) following Week 2.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Avonte Maddox injury: Lions safety likely out for season