How the Detroit Lions Will Replace Nick Fairley

A little rain fell on the Detroit Lions in the middle of their incredible rally to stun the Atlanta Falcons in London. Defensive tackle Nick Fairley went down with a knee injury just before halftime and did not return.

Though MLive's Justin Rogers reported that coach Jim Caldwell disputes the report, the extent of the injury was revealed on Monday:

"

MCL and PCL for Lions DT Nick FAirley according to source. Hope is he's back in 4-5 weeks.

— Michael C. Wright (@mikecwright) October 27, 2014"

It's not the worst possible outcome, but losing Fairley for at least a month certainly puts a dent in Detroit's top-ranked defense. He was playing consistently strong, disciplined football as he angles for a new contract in the offseason.

Tackles	Sacks	QB Hurries	PFF Score
10	2	17	10.8

Fortunately, the Lions do have some viable options to plug the hole for a few weeks.

The most logical move was on full display on Atlanta's first possession of the third quarter. Jason Jones slid inside from his usual defensive end spot and dominated the entire three-and-out series. 

"

Jason Jones forcing the three and out. #Lions

— Tom Leyden (@TomLeyden) October 26, 2014"

Jones strip-sacked Matt Ryan on Atlanta's very first play, setting the tone for the aggressive comeback.

His penetration forced the ensuing play off schedule, allowing DeAndre Levy to stuff Steven Jackson for a minimal gain. On third down Jones exploded into the backfield and forced Ryan to quickly throw the ball away, forcing a punt. 

Jones has played both end and tackle throughout his career, so kicking him inside to handle some of the load is no stretch. Detroit's depth at end makes that move easier.

"

If Nick Fairley has to miss any significant time, expect Jason Jones to be moved inside to DT. Darryl Tapp to DE. #Lions

— Dan Hasty (@DanHasty34) October 26, 2014"

Tapp hurried Ryan a couple of times while playing a season-high 24 snaps, also recording a tackle. While he's typically an end—and has played a lot of outside linebacker in his NFL career—the 260-pound Tapp saw some action at tackle versus Atlanta. 

"

Darryl Tapp is taking snaps at DT right now with Fairley out and Mosley suspended.

— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) October 26, 2014"

Devin Taylor recorded his highest Pro Football Focus (subscription required) grade of the season, and the second-year end can easily handle playing an extra series or two. He too has played some tackle at times in his Lions career. 

Detroit has rookie Larry Webster available to ramp up the depth at end as well. He's been a weekly inactive after flashing some burst and special teams ability in the preseason. 

Then there's C.J. Mosley, who will return to the lineup after being sent home from London as part of a two-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. Prior to his suspension Mosley played exactly 23 snaps four games in a row. 

It's unclear at this time what led to Mosley's untimely dismissal, but he is expected to be back in action when the Lions host the Miami Dolphins following the bye week. He should return to his familiar role of playing between 20-25 snaps a game. 

Another option is rookie Caraun Reid. The fifth-round pick from Princeton played reasonably well in his first extended NFL action. As MLive's Rogers noted: 

"

Reid didn't record a tackle in the 35 snaps he worked Sunday, but he still played a role in a defense that allowed the Falcons to gain just 80 yards in the second half. According to Pro Football Focus, the fifth-round pick out of Princeton led the team with three quarterback pressures. 

"

Reid had an uneven preseason, struggling mightily early on before getting acclimated and gaining some confidence late in the process. He has been largely invisible during his brief stints in prior regular-season games. 

Of course, continued stellar play from Ndamukong Suh would go a long way in helping fill the hole. Suh also had his best game of the year against Atlanta, according to PFF. He could help his lucrative contractual desires by elevating his game even more without his talented running mate.