Left tackle Jeff Backus won’t be ready for the start of training camp because of a left pectoral injury he suffered while away from the team this summer.
“I don’t want to go too quick on Backus, but that’s not going to be a day-to-day thing,” Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. “That’s going to be a little bit of time. How much? I don’t know. I think everybody feels confident that he’ll be ready, but when I really don’t know. And we’ll take that one step by step.”
It’s not known how or when Backus suffered his injury, but he took part in both of the Lions’ sessions of player-organized workouts this spring. His injury is believed to be a partially torn left pectoral.
New York Giants receiver Steve Smith missed four games with a partially torn pectoral muscle last year. Denver Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil missed all of 2010 with a torn pectoral that required surgery.
Backus has started all 160 games at left tackle since the Lions took him in the first round of the 2001 draft and is coming off two of his best seasons.
Starting right tackle Gosder Cherilus also is coming off a major injury. He underwent microfracture knee surgery late last season.
The Lions have yet to address the offensive line in free agency, but Schwartz indicated they could add backup help at the position.
“We’re looking at depth at a lot of different positions and I think that the way we finished the year last year with Gosder being hurt, we saw Corey Hilliard and even Jason Fox get some playing time,” Schwartz said. “We drafted a player in the seventh round, (Johnny) Culbreath, too.
“So (Backus’ injury) gives those guys chances to get some reps and things like that. You never want to have a player injured or anything like that, but probably better at the beginning knowing it coming in and giving you time to address that in camp and give some opportunities for some guys.”
“I don’t want to go too quick on Backus, but that’s not going to be a day-to-day thing,” Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. “That’s going to be a little bit of time. How much? I don’t know. I think everybody feels confident that he’ll be ready, but when I really don’t know. And we’ll take that one step by step.”
It’s not known how or when Backus suffered his injury, but he took part in both of the Lions’ sessions of player-organized workouts this spring. His injury is believed to be a partially torn left pectoral.
New York Giants receiver Steve Smith missed four games with a partially torn pectoral muscle last year. Denver Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil missed all of 2010 with a torn pectoral that required surgery.
Backus has started all 160 games at left tackle since the Lions took him in the first round of the 2001 draft and is coming off two of his best seasons.
Starting right tackle Gosder Cherilus also is coming off a major injury. He underwent microfracture knee surgery late last season.
“We’re looking at depth at a lot of different positions and I think that the way we finished the year last year with Gosder being hurt, we saw Corey Hilliard and even Jason Fox get some playing time,” Schwartz said. “We drafted a player in the seventh round, (Johnny) Culbreath, too.
“So (Backus’ injury) gives those guys chances to get some reps and things like that. You never want to have a player injured or anything like that, but probably better at the beginning knowing it coming in and giving you time to address that in camp and give some opportunities for some guys.”
