Detroit Lions Nick Fairley dealing with injury?

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley was one of the most exciting players in college football during his time with the Auburn Tigers, and he’s shown that exciting play in flashes during his career. But the early part of the 2014 season has been the first time in which Fairley has looked to turn these enticing flashes into solid, consistent play. The Lions have tried to motivate Fairley, who once struggled mightily with weight and conditioning issues largely attributed to a lack of motivation, by not giving him his fifth-year player option, among other things.

Live Feed

FanSided

So far, the tactics have evidently worked out well, as Fairley is playing the best football of his career right now, forcing consistent pressure next to Ndamukong Suh and playing some dominant run defense. The Lions have one of the best run defenses in the league, and I don’t expect that to change even with Stephen Tulloch out, as Fairley, Suh, and DeAndre Levy are all excellent in this regard.

According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Fairley, unfortunately, appears to be dealing with an injury of some sort, as Birkett reports that the young DT is “definitely” sporting a limp that he calls “very noticeable” while he walks out of the locker room. It didn’t seem like he suffered any sort of ailment in last week’s win over the New York Jets, but this is worth monitoring as we start the week of practice before the Lions Week 5 game against the Buffalo Bills.