Fairley On How Injury Will Impact His Free Agency: 'I Can't Avoid Thinking About It'
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
ALLEN PARK (CBS DETROIT) - Injured Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley said Wednesday he feels great mentally and physically. In his eyes, a return this season is still a realistic possibility.
He sidestepped a question about surgery, however, and gave no indication of when he expects to be back from the knee injury he suffered in Detroit's game against the Atlanta Falcons.
"Right now, I'm taking it one day at a time," Fairley said, "just trying to strengthen my knee up as strong as I can so hopefully I can get back out there this year."
Fairley still attends meetings with the team each day before spending about two hours in the training room and two hours in the weight room. He said the next step for him will be getting on a bike or running, but he does not know when that will happen. He has stayed connected with his teammates throughout the comeback process, he said.
"The guys in my d-line room are helping me out a whole lot," Fairley said. "We've got a group text that the guys are just sitting, texting back and forth. On Sundays I'm sending them one in the morning, [Ndamukong] Suh just sent me one five minutes ago, and it was like, 'How are you doing?' because he saw me when I walked in today. Guys, they're staying on top of me and helping me keep a positive mind."
Fairley struggled with his weight some before the season, but Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said the organization did not have any concern that the injury would cause Fairley to gain back weight he had lost. Indeed, not only did Fairley not gain weight, he lost weight. He is down to 292 pounds.
The defensive tackle wants to get back on the field so he can partake in the success the Lions - and especially the defensive line - have enjoyed this year.
Fairley also knows that whether he returns could have an impact on what happens when he becomes a free agent following the season. While he is not focused on that aspect, it has crossed his mind.
"I can't avoid thinking about it," Fairley said. "It's here. It's going to be here. It's going to come about. Right now I've got to just put it on the back burner. I can't think about it as much as I want to. Like I said, I've just got to wait until that time comes."
Lions safety Glover Quin said the defense - which still ranks first in the NFL in points allowed per game - misses what Fairley brings.
"It's very different," Quin said. "You lose a premier player, for one, a big, athletic guy in the middle that can rush the passer, can stop the run, strong. You lose depth. The guys that are starting now were coming in to give a break, and so when you lose that depth, especially in the fourth quarter and things of that nature, it makes a big difference. Just having him out there, big guy, big presence, strong, having to account for him with Suh right beside him, that's tough on an interior offensive line to try to block those guys."
More than his physical attributes, Fairley provides a levity to the group.
"He's got a nice little swag," Quin said with a smile. "When he makes a play, he's got a little swag about him. You can just kind of see it. I don't really hear it that much because I'm far back or whatever, but I can see it in his walk. I don't know if you all remember, he made a play last year against Chicago and he did high knees all the way to the 50-yard line. You'll never see Suh do that, but you see Nick doing it, and that's kind of how he is.
"You can't take a premier defensive tackle, nosetackle out of your lineup with his type of spirit and attitude and not miss that," Quin added. "He's a jolly guy. He's always trying to have fun. That's what he's trying to do, and so to bring that fun, that calmness, that presence to the team, you're definitely going to miss it, especially from a big-time player like that."
Caldwell has yet to provide an update on when Fairley could return, but he said Fairley is doing well in terms of his mental state and his progress.
"Early on it's always a little bit difficult for them," Caldwell said. "The initial thing that happens to them is a bit of estrangement because they're not out there doing the work, but yet he's stayed around, came around quite a bit, and we try to keep him around as much as we can.
"You can also see that we're starting to make some headway, you begin to see him liven up a little bit more," Caldwell added. "He's off those crutches walking around, you hear him, which is comforting, but he's doing better."
