Reports: Lions' Abdullah set for checkup on injured foot
Detroit -- Ameer Abdullah is headed to North Carolina next week to meet with Dr. Robert Anderson, the surgeon who performed the Detroit Lions running back's foot surgery in September. The news was first reported by the NFL Network.
If Abdullah's reevaluation goes well, it leaves the door open for a potential return this season. Prior to suffering the foot injury in Week 2, he was performing well, gaining 101 yards on 18 carries and catching five passes for another 57 yards.
The Lions' ground game has been inconsistent during his absence. For the season, the team is averaging 3.9 yards per carry, but if you remove Abdullah's stats, as well as quarterback Matthew Stafford's scrambles, that number drops to 3.5 yards per carry.
Each NFL team is permitted to bring one player back from injured reserve each season. That player can begin practicing six weeks after being put on IR and can play in a game after eight weeks.
Beyond Abdullah, linebacker Jonathan Bostic is the most viable candidate for the Lions to activate. He suffered a foot injury that required surgery in August and was seen running with a trainer on the sidelines during a practice before the team's bye.