Barring a setback, Lions tight end Eric Ebron is on track to play in Week 1 against the Colts, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). In fact, the source says that Ebron even has an outside chance at playing in the team’s fourth and final preseason game. 
Earlier this month, Ebron gave a scare to Lions fans everywhere when he was carted off the field after suffering an injury. The early fear was that Ebron tore his Achilles, but it was apparently just an ankle injury of a lesser variety.
An Ebron absence of any length would have been unfortunate for Detroit as he is one of the team’s most dangerous receiving weapons. It also doesn’t help that backup tight end Brandon Pettigrew is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last season and new acquisition Andrew Quarless is suspended for the first two weeks of the season. Beyond them, Detroit’s tight ends are Cole Wick, Matthew Mulligan and Orson Charles.
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.
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