Lions safety Louis Delmas doesn’t like being called injury prone.
Maybe he knows a better phrase for it, but having missed 12 of the Lions’ last 19 games because of knee problems, his critics have to call him something.
“That’s their opinion,” Delmas said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “As long as I know deep down inside that I’m doing everything I can to go out there and participate and play, then that’s all that matters.
“I mean, I’m a reckless man. I go out there, and I throw my body around, but those people that are sitting there saying that can’t do what I do: I’m great at what I do. I go out there, and I throw my body around. I want to see them do that same thing, and if they can’t, they should keep their mouth shut.”
Other than the silliness of the “you never played the game” card, Delmas can’t control the injuries.
He had a partial right MCL tear last Thanksgiving, and then had surgery on his left knee in August after persistent tendinitis bothered him throughout training camp.
That’s limited him to six games this season, which is one of the many problems the Lions have endured. He said he plans to play Saturday night against the Falcons, which would make back-to-back games for the first time since October.
He said an offseason of rest should help him return next year, and they need it. He’s an impact player when he’s on the field.
He’s just not on the field terribly often.