Detroit Lions: DT Nick Fairley Has Foot Surgery, out 3-4 Weeks

The Detroit Lions have not been able to catch a break when it comes to injuries over the past several years. ESPN.com reported Wednesday the Lions will be without defensive tackle Nick Fairley for 3-4 weeks with an undisclosed foot injury.

The 2011 No. 13 overall draft pick left Tuesday's practice early after sustaining the injury during a special teams drill. Fairley immediately underwent X-rays, which came back negative, and wore a walking boot for the remainder of the day.

The former Auburn Tiger went to Charlotte, N.C. Wednesday morning to be evaluated and immediately underwent surgery with Dr. Bob Anderson. 

The Lions did not provide any details about the surgery, but did confirm it was not a Lisfranc injury, which could have put Fairley's foreseeable in jeopardy.

Fairley is expected to miss a "significant portion" of training camp according to team officials, but there is no word yet as to whether or not the Lions expect him to be able to return for their season-opener Sept. 11 at Tampa Bay.

Unfortunately for Lions fans. they have dealt with a lot of injuries to their top players and draft picks over the recent decade. 

In 2003, the Lions took Michigan State wide receiver Charles Rogers with the second overall pick, and the young talent showed flashes of stardom during his rookie season. The former Spartan star collided with cornerback Dre Bly in a speed drill after playing just five games and missed the remainder of the season.

Rogers came back in 2004 and re-injured his collarbone on the third play of the Lions' season-opener against the Chicago Bears.

The Lions' top draft pick in 2009, quarterback Matt Stafford, has already missed significant time his first two seasons in Detroit with a separated shoulder.

The list goes on and on for Detroit, who cannot seem to keep their best players healthy for a full season. Lions fans can only hope Fairley returns before the start of the regular season and can make an impact alongside defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in the 2011-2012 season. If not, Detroit's playoff hopes will take a significant hit.

Zach Dirlam is a Big Ten Columnist for the new website Sports at Work. Check out his blog, Dirlam’s Dirty Dugout Sports Blog, which features this story along with other articles and video reports on the major sports. You can also follow his blog on Twitter, which will provide you with the latest updates about what will be posted on the blog!