When Lions first-round defensive tackle Nick Fairley came up with an injured foot on Monday, coach Jim Schwartz pooh-poohed it. And with Fairley showing up Tuesday in a walking boot, Lions fans have pooh-poohed a little.
“It’s not [a big setback] at all,” Fairley told reporters after practice, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I’m doing whatever I can do to get ready to get back as soon as I can.”
And then Fairley said he doesn’t know when that will be.
Schwartz said Monday that X-rays were negative. “Still doing some tests on him and having a lot of different people look at his stuff, but he’s down for now, and we’ll see what happens,” Schwartz said Tuesday, per Birkett.
Fairley’s injury, no matter how serious it is or isn’t, is a reminder of the manner in which high expectations can -- and inevitably will -- quickly deflate when a guy perceived to be a contributor suddenly can’t play.