Over the weekend, it was reported that the Detroit Lions’ rookie Jeff Okudah would have core muscle surgery and be placed on injured reserve this week.
On Monday, interim coach Darrell Bevell acknowledged Okudah would have surgery on Tuesday and would be placed on injured reserve. After surgery, Okudah announced that it was successful and that he was looking “forward to putting this behind me and focusing on becoming the best player that I can be”.
Today, the Lions have made it official by placing Okudah on injured reserve.
Being drafted third overall comes with high expectations, and while it’s fair to say Okudah fell short of the lofty bar set for him, there were clear signs of a foundation that he can build on.
Okudah finished his rookie campaign with six starts over nine games played, recorded 47 tackles (41 solos), including four for loss, two pass breakups, and an interception:
Gorgeous first career interception by Jeff Okudah. Undercuts the DeAndre Hopkins route, closes on the ball, dives for the pick and has the awareness to get up and run pic.twitter.com/oTQ1qqyA6L
— Erik Schlitt (@erikschlitt) September 27, 2020
“I think he’s going to have a bright future,” interim coach Darrell Bevell said of Okudah. “It’s been a tough year for him. He’s kind of in and out of the lineup a little bit with injuries, and that can happen with a young player. You have to get your body used to this grind and this type of season that you have in the National Football League. I think he’ll only be better for what he’s gone through this year. I expect him to go out and get the surgery, come back with a renewed attitude and a renewed effort to get himself in shape, to get himself ready to play and ready for this grind.”
The Lions now have an open spot on the 53-man roster, but with injuries at several key positions, they are in no rush to make a move to add a player. Bevell indicated that they are currently assessing the team, looking at who could potentially return from injury or get called up from the practice squad, and “by the end of the week we’ll have it nailed down”.