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Thursday night's preseason game for the Detroit Lions resulted in a few players suffering injuries, and at least one of them is going to require surgery. According to Dave Birkett, Lions tight end Michael Williams suffered a broken hand during the New England Patriots game, and he is set to have surgery next week.
The good news is that this injury isn't believed to be bad enough to end Williams' season, according to Birkett. In other words, Williams may miss an extended period of time while he recovers, but it isn't expected to keep him out for the entire 2013 season.
However, Birkett also notes that the Lions could still decide to put Williams on injured reserve. Perhaps they would designate him to return like they did with Drayton Florence last year after he suffered a broken forearm. That would give the Lions a roster spot while Williams recovers and allow him to play later in the 2013 season.
This news likely means that tight end Joseph Fauria will make the Lions' 53-man roster. It remains to be seen if the Lions will keep Williams on the roster and go with four tight ends or put him on IR and only keep three, but Fauria is now in position to make the team. That may have been the case even if Williams didn't get hurt considering how much playing time Fauria has been getting, but now the Lions may have to keep him on the 53-man roster.