The Lions placed both cornerback Alphonso Smith and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch on injured reserve today, ending their season. Smith needs surgery to repair a recurrent subluxation of his right shoulder and Vanden Bosch needs surgery to fix a bulging disk in his neck.
So far the Lions have filled one of their two vacant roster spots by signing cornerback Prince Miller off the Ravens' practice squad. Miller was signed by Baltimore as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia. He was released during the final round of roster cuts and signed with the Patriots' practice squad. A week later Baltimore put him on their active roster. On Oct. 5, he was waived and signed to Baltimore's practice squad, where he had spent the last two months before signing with the Lions.
In other injury news, running back Kevin Smith had shoulder surgery done on Tuesday by Dr. James Andrews. Smith was already out for the year with a thumb injury and apparently decided to get his shoulder fixed as well. Also, Dr. Andrews will reportedly do Alphonso Smith's surgery today. (Matthew Stafford has visited Dr. Andrews a few times in the last two years as well.)