Lions Put RB Ameer Abdullah On Injured Reserve With Hurt Foot

The Detroit Lions have lost their top running back for the foreseeable future.

Lions Put RB Ameer Abdullah On Injured Reserve With Hurt Foot

Ameer Abdullah has been placed on injured reserve after hurting his left foot during the second quarter of Sunday’s 16-15 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Lions coach Jim Caldwell stated Wednesday that Abdullah underwent foot surgery, although he didn’t elaborate on the procedure. When asked whether the running back could return this season, Caldwell simply said: “We’ll see.”

Every NFL team is allowed to bring one player back to the 53-man roster off injured reserve.

Abdullah injured his foot on a 24-yard run in which he broke several tackles. At the end of the run, he limped off the field and went almost directly into the team’s locker room. He did not return.

Initial X-Rays on the foot showed no broken bones, according to a source, although Abdullah traveled to Charlotte on Tuesday for a second opinion with specialist Dr. Robert Anderson. Detroit placed him on injured reserve on Wednesday.

Abdullah was the Lions’ No. 1 running back, recording 101 yards on 188 carries this season. He also caught 5 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown.

“Guys have got to step up and play,” Caldwell said. “Somebody has got to take a few more carries than they would have ordinarily, and obviously I think we have a number of guys we can do that for us.”

With Abdullah, out, Detroit will turn to Theo Riddick for running back, as well as rookie Dwayne Washington and second-year player Zach Zenner, who hasn’t played at all this season. The Lions could also potentially bring back Joique Bell, who worked out in Detroit on Tuesday, according to ESPN Insider Adam Caplan, although Bell has not signed with the team.

The Lions signed wide receiver Aaron Dobson to replace Abdullah on the roster. Detroit also signed linebacker Zaviar Gooden and running back George Winn to the practice squad and released guard Chase Farris and wideout Isaac Fruechte.

The team is currently dealing with a string of injuries, primarily on defense. The following players missed Wednesday’s practice: Defensive linemen Ezekiel Ansah (ankle), Tyrunn Walker and Wallace Gilberry; linebackers DeAndre Levy (quad), Kyle Van Noy (calf) and Antwione Williams (thigh), tight end Eric Ebron and starting right tackle Riley Reiff.

The Lions will next visit the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SEPTEMBER 11: Ameer Abdullah #21 of the Detroit Lions runs past a blocker during the second quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)