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Report: Detroit Lions OLB James Houston out 6 to 8 weeks with fractured ankle
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- Report: Detroit Lions OLB James Houston out 6 to 8 weeks with fractured ankle
The Detroit Lions have one sack in their first two games, tied for second-fewest in the NFL, and now they'll be without one of their best pass rushers for at least the next six to eight weeks.
Lions outside linebacker James Houston suffered a fractured ankle in Sunday's 37-31 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks , NFL Network reported , and is undergoing further testing Monday to determine whether he'll need surgery.
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Houston was injured covering a kick in the third quarter, when his leg bent back awkwardly after taking a big block.
Detroit Lions linebacker James Houston tackles Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant after a catch during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said after the game Houston would "be out for a little while" because of his injury.
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Houston's injury is the second significant loss the Lions have taken to their defensive front in the past five days.
Second-year defensive lineman Josh Paschal suffered a knee injury in practice Thursday and was placed on injured reserve Saturday . He will miss at least the next four games.
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Houston, a sixth-round pick out of Jackson State in 2022, had eight sacks in seven games as a rookie, when he started the season on practice squad and finished it as one of the Lions' best pass rushers. He played primarily in pass rush packages the first two weeks of this season, behind Charles Harris at outside linebacker.
Julian Okwara, the Lions' No. 3 outside linebacker, also is on injured reserve and eligible to return in early October.
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The Lions suffered a slew of injuries Sunday, including several to key starters. Running back David Montgomery left the game with a thigh bruise that he told the Free Press probably will take "a couple weeks" to heal, right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai suffered a knee injury in the third quarter and is due for further evaluation Monday, receiver Antoine Green finished the game in concussion protocol, and Kerby Joseph (hip, shoulder), C.J. Gardner-Johnson (arm), Amon-Ra St. Brown (toe, cramping) and Aidan Hutchinson (undisclosed) were among other starters who left the game because of injuries but returned.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him @davebirkett .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions OLB James Houston out for weeks with fractured ankle
