Report: Detroit Lions lose cornerback Quandre Diggs for season
The Detroit Lions' remarkable run of good health appears to have come to an end.
NFL Network reported today that nickel cornerback Quandre Diggs suffered a season-ending injury in Sunday's 28-13 win over the New Orleans Saints.
Diggs, who's scheduled for further examination on Tuesday, left in Sunday's third quarter with what the team announced as a shoulder injury after he gave up a 14-yard pass to Willie Snead.
Trainers spent time examining Diggs' right arm on the bench, and Diggs did not return to the game. According to NFL Network, Diggs actually suffered a pectoral injury.
A sixth-round pick out of Texas last year, Diggs started four games as the Lions' third cornerback this fall and made 44 tackles, but he lost playing time recently as the team opted to use backup safeties Rafael Bush and Miles Killebrew in many nickel and dime packages.
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"Oftentimes it depends on what you're going to face from an offensive standpoint depending on their personnel groupings," Lions coach Jim Caldwell explained of the team's big nickel defense at his news conference today. "(Defensive coordinator) Teryl (Austin) does a nice job, and our defensive staff, they do a good job of making certain that our guys are in the best possible position. We may go another game where you may say, 'Hey, it's not quite as prevalent.' That's simply because of the fact that schematically it doesn't fit to put our guys in the best position to win."
The Lions, who've lost just one starter to injured reserve this year — running back Ameer Abdullah — did not make a transaction today, though two players they waived on Saturday, running back Justin Forsett and cornerback Johnthan Banks, were claimed off waivers by the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears.
The Lions also have a decisions to make soon on whether to activate tight end Brandon Pettigrew from the physically unable to perform list, and what to do with wide receiver TJ Jones, who played well Sunday after he signed off the practice squad as an injury replacement for Marvin Jones.
Rookie Adairius Barnes replaced Diggs at slot corner for most of Sunday's second half, and the Lions also lost running back Dwayne Washington to an ankle injury in the game.
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