Detroit Lions: Mikel Leshoure Makes Debut, Matthew Stafford, Kevin Smith and Both Starting CBs Leave Game with Injuries

By Alek Frost
Senior Writer

The long awaited debut of Detroit Lions running back Mikel Leshoure came and went with very little to write home about. The rusher saw action early and often, but failed to gain much ground against the Oakland Raiders.

Leshoure rushed for just one yard on five carries and caught one pass for six yards. While he produced very little in his professional debut, he showed no signs of the hamstring issue that has plagued him throughout training camp.

Any ill effects from the Achilles injury that robbed him of his rookie year, were also nowhere to be found. Instead, his lack of decisiveness did him in.

More than a year removed from live action, a little rust was to be expected. So the fact that Leshoure looked a bit apprehensive when carrying the ball, came as little surprise. On more than one occasion, instead of planting a foot and exploding through a running lane, Leshoure stutter stepped and lost what little running room he was allotted.

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With that said, the Lions offensive line didn’t exactly manhandle the Raiders defensive front either. So much of Leshoure’s ineffectiveness, could be attributed to the limited running room he had to work with.

Leshoure’s decisiveness and the Lions run blocking should improve as the year progresses, so don’t read too much into either performance. The most important step, was Leshoure getting back on the field for the first time since his days at the University of Illinois.

It remains unclear whether he will see more snaps next week against Buffalo, but it would be in Leshoure’–and the team’s–best interest, considering Leshoure is set to serve a two-game suspension to open the season.

Stafford’s non-throwing hand fine, would have returned to game in regular season

Matthew Stafford left Saturday’s game with a left hand injury, after completing 8-of-10 passing attempts for 68 yards. Following the injury, he was seen on the sideline with a club-like wrap that covered his left hand and wrist. But in the second half he traded the original bandage for a much less intimidating and smaller black wrap; appearing none the worse for wear. 

X-rays on Stafford’s hand were negative, though he did pop a blood vessel in the hand. The quarterback said he would have continued to play, had it been a regular season game.

“Probably what would have happened in a regular season game is right after it happened, I would have up for x-rays,” Stafford said. “If they would have said they were negative, I would have come back in the game.

“It feels okay right now. It feels fine, really. It’s scary to look down and see your hand swell up by the second. “

Stafford played his first full 16-game schedule last year, after missing 19 of his first 32 games due to injury. The former No. 1 overall draft pick broke several franchise records in 2011, throwing for 5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns, en route to Comeback Player of the Year honors.

Both starting CBs injured, Kevin Smith’s X-rays negative

Kevin Smith also made an early exit with an apparent ankle injury and headed to the locker room. Sometime later, Smith came out of the locker room and jogged back to the Detroit sideline. Smith said his X-rays were negative and he confident he will bounce back quickly.

“My x-rays were negative,” Smith said. “It just gets scary under the pile of those big guys laying on you. It’s just a minor tweak, something I’m pretty sure I can get rid of quick. Just stay in the training room.

“More than anything, I was very scared. Just being that I had a high ankle sprain, I know how long it took to get back healthy. It’s not a high ankle sprain, so that’s positive. I’ll get in the treatment room and get back as soon as I can.”

Starting cornerbacks Chris Houston (ankle) and Bill Bentley (shoulder) both left the game with injuries and did not return. Bentley got his arm caught under a receiver while making a tackle, while Houston injured his left ankle in the second quarter. The severity of Houston and Bentley’s injuries are still not yet known.    

Follow Alek on Twitter: @Alek_Frost

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