When the Detroit Lions held a voluntary OTA on Tuesday, stud defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh was present after missing voluntary workouts earlier this offseason. He did not address his team about the absence, something his new coach doesn't have a problem with, per the Detroit Free Press.
Ndamukong Suh at OTAs, Nick Fairley recovering from procedure
While one Lions lineman is back on the field, another is still working his way towards that goal.
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
“I don’t understand why that would even come up as an issue,” head coach Jim Caldwell said. “He didn’t do anything wrong, he didn’t break any rules. It’s all voluntary. I don’t think it makes much sense.”
Suh has been a lightning rod this offseason after the Lions failed to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Despite playing well with 49 tackles and 5.5 sacks, the drop-off in production -- from 8.5 sacks in 2012 and 10 in his rookie campaign of 2010 -- was noticeable.
Suh is still playing on his rookie contract, which expires after the 2014 season. General manager Martin Mayhew has not doled out an extension yet despite being widely expected to work out a long-term deal in the future. This season, Suh is scheduled to make $22.4 million.
Trade rumors were blowing through Detroit in recent months, suggesting that Suh could be dealt if the offer was right. However, the former Nebraska star has remained with the Lions and appears ready to go.
One man who is not ready to take the field is fellow defensive tackle Nick Fairley. Caldwell stated that Fairley was dealing with a medical issue but would not reveal the exact nature of the injury. Caldwell did say that Fairley had a procedure done to relieve the problem.
Fairley is coming off a season in which he had six sacks after recording 5.5 sacks in 2012.
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