His club’s sack leader as a rookie, Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah is one of the key components of a defense known for his strong line play.
However, Ansah is on the mend after offseason shoulder surgery, which has kept him out of offseason workouts. This has left the 25-year-old end to try and master new defensive coordinator Teryl Austin’s scheme without the benefit of on-field work.
According to Kyle Meinke of MLive.com, Austin believes Ansah is “going to have some catching up to do” because of his inactivity. However, Austin also noted that Ansah (eight sacks in 2013) has done well to stay engaged.
“He’s been here the whole time, so he’s getting it. He’s just not getting the actual reps,” Austin said of Ansah, according to MLive.com.
For wanting to look on the bright side, it’s preferable that Ansah takes mental reps as he mends in June than during the season. The Lions’ best edge rusher, it may be a benefit that Ansah doesn’t endure any wear and tear in the offseason.
The question now is when Ansah will be cleared; per MLive.com, it’s not yet known when that will happen. But time remains on the Lions’ side, what with three months until the regular season.