Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley may be out for the rest of the season following a knee sprain suffered back in Week 8.
The former 2011 first-round pick teamed with Ndamukong Suh, Ezekiel Ansah and Jason Jones to form one of the most talented and disruptive defensive lines in the league this year. The Lions are the top-ranked defense in the NFL.
But Lions head coach Jim Caldwell told the media he was "not sure" if Fairley would see the field again this year.
"Same thing I said a few weeks ago, I'm not real certain, to be honest with you," Caldwell told the Detroit Free Press.
Detroit continues to play well on the defensive side of the ball but clearly misses Fairley's interior disruption. The team has recorded six sacks in the past four games without Fairley, after posting 23 in the eight games he did play. The initial prognosis had Fairley returning in four to five weeks, but Caldwell's pessimism Monday said otherwise.
The Lions declined to pick up Fairley's option for next season in an attempt to motivate him into living up to his potential consistently. Through half a season, the gamble seemed to be paying off. Now Fairley is unlikely to play again before hitting the open market.
Detroit can look at this one of two ways. The first is that Fairley's injury will lower his asking price in free agency, saving the team valuable salary cap space as it tries to re-sign Suh and other free agents. The second is a concern over his long-term health and whether or not Fairley is worth the investment.
The Lions (8-4, second in NFC North) will play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-10, fourth in NFC South) on Sunday.