SUNDAY, 5:25pm: For what it’s worth, Ebron told multiple teammates “that he’s okay,” leading NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport to wonder whether the injury might actually be minor (Twitter link). Furthermore, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets that the Lions haven’t reached out to any free agent tight ends.
SATURDAY, 3:04pm: Eric Ebron left Saturday’s Lions practice on a cart after suffering an injury that prevented the third-year tight end from putting any weight on his lower right leg, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Jim Caldwell, per the Lions’ usual policy regarding injuries, did not have any comment on the nature of the starter’s injury. Ebron suffered what Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter) categorized as an Achilles malady. Ebron remained down for several minutes before the cart emerged.
The Lions, who held Ebron out of practice on Friday due to an undisclosed injury, observed their tight end depth chart endure what could be a savage blow while Ebron was blocking during a drill. Backup tight end Brandon Pettigrew is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last season. Beyond those two injured performers, Detroit’s top tight ends are Matthew Mulligan and Orson Charles. The Lions also lost Tim Wright for the season due to an offseason ACL tear.
Owen Daniels, Andrew Quarless and Alex Smith are three available tight ends, should Ebron’s injury turn out to be season-altering. Birkett also lists Kellen Winslow, whom recently reappeared in the news cycle after the Packers booked a workout with him earlier today.
Ebron finished last season with 47 receptions for 537 yards and five touchdowns — all career highs for a tight end expected to play a larger role for a Lions offense without Calvin Johnson this season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.