Ezekiel Ansah Injury: Updates on Lions Star's Ankle and Return

Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah was questionable for the team's Week 13 contest against the New Orleans Saints with an ankle injury. However, the Lions announced that Ansah was available to play on Sunday.

According to the Lions' injury report, Ansah put in limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday before he was upgraded to a full participant on Friday. 

Ansah was the fifth overall pick in the 2013 draft out of BYU and delivered with 15.5 sacks and five forced fumbles in his first two seasons. He was even more of a defensive force in the 2015 campaign with 14.5 sacks (third in the league) and four forced fumbles. 

He has 16 total tackles and zero sacks so far this season. 

The Ghana native didn't even play football until he arrived in the United States in college and has already developed into a high-impact pass-rusher in the NFL. Ansah checks in at 6'5" with a strength-and-speed combination that makes him difficult to keep out of the backfield.

If Ansah is limited or forced to the sidelines, Detroit has some pieces to fill in until he is able to return to a full workload.

Devin Taylor is in his fourth year in the league and gives the Lions someone who is familiar with their defensive schemes. He also racked up a career-high seven sacks in 2015 and will likely be asked to shoulder much of the pass-rushing load without Ansah on the field.

Elsewhere, 24-year-old Anthony Zettel and 25-year-old Kerry Hyder provide depth and young talent up front.

While it is nice to have enough pieces to cover for an injury, the Detroit defensive line needs Ansah healthy and on the field if it plans on living up to its potential and possibly challenging for a postseason spot.