James Houston’s evaluation period is almost over, and the Lions must make a decision soon.
James Houston’s injury evaluation window ends on Wednesday night, so the Detroit Lions will need to decide how to use their edge rusher going forward. Houston suffered an ankle/femur injury in the beginning of September and has been recovering on injured reserve ever then. The Lions cleared Houston to practice on Thursday, December 28, which gave them a 21-day window to see if he was ready to go back on the active roster.
Houston has been recovering from an injury steadily, and although he has been practicing fully, neither defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn nor coach Dan Campbell have said that he has done enough to be added back to the team just yet.
“Get in shape. Glenn stated last Thursday, “That’s it, go out and practice and see how effective you can be.” “We’ll put you in there and let you play if you’re effective.”
Houston has one more practice to show coaches he’s ready, as his evaluation window closes on Wednesday. The Lions will then have to make a selection, and they are limited to these two options: The Lions would have to cut a player from their 53-man roster to create place if they activate him from injured reserve when he’s ready. If he isn’t prepared, the Lions won’t activate him, which means his season will end, and he might be cut from the squad altogether. Houston’s capacity to put pressure on the quarterback might give the Lions’ defense a much-needed lift.
“I think I’m a really explosive player,” Houston declared last month, “I like to think of myself as a game-changer.” Thus, I believe I may be of assistance there, particularly with pass rushes, sacks, and forced fumbles. everything.
Detroit only put 19 pressures on Los Angeles against the Rams in the NFL Wild Card round, but Aidan Hutchinson alone was responsible for nine of those pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. Josh Paschal, an edge rusher, and interior defensive lineman Alim McNeill each recorded three pressures; no one else had more than one.