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We’re now into Week 3 of free agency and former Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah is one of the few premier talents left on the market. Ansah hasn’t had many suitors thus far in free agency, with only two reported visits on his docket (Saints, Bills).
So why hasn’t there been a bigger, more active market for the 29-year-old pass rusher who once had 14.5 sacks in a single season?
Well, the reason is exactly what you’d expect if you’re a Lions fan who has paid any attention to Ansah’s career. According to Ian Rapoport, teams are waiting to get a fuller explanation on Ansah’s medicals:
Why hasn’t pass-rusher Ziggy Ansah signed yet? His agent said teams wanted more info about his surgically repaired shoulder. The plan is to wait until his 4-month appointment in mid-April to help determine his readiness. After the initial FA push, there’s no rush to sign now.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 25, 2019
Week 14, Ansah suffered a shoulder injury against the Cardinals that ended his season. It was the latest injury to have derailed his young career. Over the past few seasons, Ansah has dealt with various injuries, including a knee issue that involved offseason surgery. He’s missed 14 games in the past three seasons and had to see most of his snaps limited in 2018 due to the lingering shoulder injury.
So teams are smart to wait on all the medical information they can get on Ansah. If they’re going to pay top dollar for one of the more talented pass rushers in free agency, they need to know what they’re getting in him. Hopefully for all parties involved, his April medical checkup goes well.