The Lions trainers are going to be ready for the preseason, although the team would probably prefer they had a lighter workload in the preseason.
Running back Kevin Smith hobbled off the field three plays into the second half. It appeared to be a right ankle injury for Smith, who has been no stranger to the injury report during his professional career. Perhaps that’s why Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press caught him punching the bench when he returned to the sideline.
Surprisingly, Smith doesn’t seem to have suffered another injury as a result. The way the Lions’ night is going, that qualifies as good news. They lost quarterback Matthew Stafford to a left hand injury in the first half and also watched cornerbacks Chris Houston and Bill Bentley go down with injuries before halftime.
The good news for the Lions backfield is that Mikel Leshoure got through his first preseason game ever without any problems from either the Achilles that ruined last season or the hamstring that’s slowed him this year. The Lions didn’t baby Leshoure in his return, giving him six carries (one called back by a penalty) and a few looks on passes during his stretch with the starting offense. Leshoure only gained one yard behind an offensive line that had problem clearing holes against Oakland, but he didn’t get hurt.
That qualifies as good news in this injury-filled game. The bad news is that Leshoure won’t play the first two games of the season and Keiland Williams is the last healthy man standing if Smith’s injury proves to be serious.