Detroit Lions defensive end Kerry Hyder has been ruled out for the season with a torn Achilles. The third-year standout suffered the injury Sunday afternoon during the first quarter of the Lions 24-10 preseason victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
Lions Defensive End Kerry Hyder Out For Season
#Lions DE Kerry Hyder, one of their breakout players from 2016 with 8 sacks, is out for 2017. Source said he tore his Achilles. Brutal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 14, 2017
Hyder was rushing Colts quarterback Scott Tolzien when he quickly fell to the ground and clutched his leg. The former Texas Tech Red Raider was then promptly carted off the field. Directly after the game, there was no insight into the severity or consequences of the injury. However, Lions coach Jim Caldwell admitted that it was “significant.”
After appearing in only one game in 2015, Hyder broke out last season for Detroit. The 26-year-old posted 23 total tackles to go along with a team-leading eight sacks. This is a devastating loss for the Lions, as Pro Bowler Ezekiel Ansah and free-agent pickup Cornelius Washington already represented a banged up defensive line in Detroit.
Ansah was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list prior to training camp. He is continuing to battle ankle injuries that plagued him most of last season. Washington, meanwhile, also missed the Lions preseason matchup in Indy with ankle problems. Both should be back by Detroit’s regular season opener September 10th against Arizona, but there are no guarantees.
The Lions struggled mightily rushing the passer in 2016, totaling only 26 sacks en route to a 30th place finish in that department. They tied with the Browns in sacks and finished ahead of only the Raiders. Hyder was supposed to help improve upon that number in 2017 as the team attempted to build upon a first-round postseason exit last year. Now, Detroit will have to hope that Ansah and Washington return sooner rather than later. If not, then it could be a rough season in the Motor City.
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