Caldwell Says Nevin Lawson Likely Out For Season After Injury, Surgery
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
ALLEN PARK (CBS DETROIT) - The Detroit Lions secondary has suffered two season-ending injuries in the span of two weeks.
This Sunday, fourth-round draft pick Nevin Lawson dislocated his toes and had to be carted off the field and taken to a nearby hospital for surgery. The previous Sunday, the Lions lost another cornerback, Bill Bentley, when he tore his ACL.
Lions head coach Jim Caldwell did not definitively label Lawson's injury as season-ending, but he stopped just short.
"How long it's going to be, I'm not certain as of yet," Caldwell said. "The doctors, they'll look at him before they release him. He's still there. He'll be back in a day or so. They'll give us a prognosis on the injury. I would not anticipate that he'll be back this year, but hopefully he'll heal quickly."
While no player ever wants to get injured, the fact Lawson's injury occurred in a game against the Panthers - who employ as a team physician Robert B. Anderson, a former president of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society - worked out well for Lawson and the Lions.
"The fortunate thing was the best foot and ankle specialist in this part of the world was there at the game," Caldwell said. "He had a chance to look at him and also to help set the protocol for him, so the great thing about it is he was able to take him right away to the hospital.
"That particular surgery that he went through, from what I understand, they said it's extremely important if you can get it early because so many different things can happen," Caldwell continued. "Compartment syndrome can set in, which is the thing that they try to avoid, and they were able to avoid that, to get the surgery done quickly."
In typical NFL fashion, the focus now shifts from Lawson to who will replace him.
Following Bentley's injury, the Lions activated safety Nate Ness from the practice squad to bolster the depth of the secondary, which has been without the services of safeties James Ihedigbo and Don Carey for the first two games of the regular season.
Thanks to Lawson's injury, it seems likely that rookie Mohammed Seisay will also be promoted from the practice squad.
"We talked about Mo last week, so he's there in play, and certainly capable, so we'll look at that and see what else we have to do," Caldwell said. "He's got length because he's a guy that's got good size, he's got speed, he can run, and he's got a good nose for the ball as well ... He's a very good candidate to come in and give us some quick help."
