:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65101134/1169026420.jpg.0.jpg)
The Detroit Lions may have suffered a huge blow on the opening possession of their preseason Week 3 matchup against the Buffalo Bills on Friday. Third-year linebacker Jarrad Davis had to be helped off the field minutes into the game, as he was injured when teammate Devon Kennard rolled up onto his leg from behind while making a tackle.
#Lions Jarrad Davis injured #BUFvsDET #NFLPreseason #NFL100 #OnePride pic.twitter.com/PQww1pxA0K
— Arizona sports fan (@GlendaleCards) August 24, 2019
The severity of the injury is still unknown, but the linebacker needed to be carted from the sideline into the locker room shortly after coming off of the field.
Davis was replaced on the field by fellow third-year linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin.
The Florida Gators product was the team’s first-round selection in the 2017 NFL draft. He has notched up 196 combined tackles and eight total sacks through the first two seasons of his NFL career. He was set to play a different role in this year’s defense, and feature more as a pass rusher after he had a few rough seasons as a natural middle linebacker to start his career.
UPDATE: Former NFL doctor David J. Chao gave his thoughts on the injury, and they are not encouraging:
Just looking on my cell phone but not good. Best case is severe high ankle but worry for fracture/dislocation with ligament tear abd surgery. https://t.co/SKZQBAHLF8
— David J. Chao (@ProFootballDoc) August 24, 2019
update 2: It looks like we’ll know more tomorrow, as Davis is schedule to have an MRI:
#Lions LB Jarrad Davis, who injured his ankle tonight against the #Bills, will have an MRI tomorrow, source said. Obviously it didn’t look and doesn’t sound good. But the MRI will provide crucial info.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 24, 2019