SAGINAW — Jason Fox may have been shelved the entire 2011 season with multiple injuries, but he looked plenty healthy running the court and throwing up jumpers in the Detroit Lions Crime Stoppers charity basketball game Wednesday.

Fox, who has played just four games in his two seasons with the Lions, said he is focusing on the future after two seasons nearly completely lost.

"I feel great, I'm ready," Fox said. "The past is the past. Obviously I wanted to play more and be physically able to. But that's in the past, and I'm ready to help out any way I can.

Fox, an offensive tackle drafted in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft, was sidelined all of last season, first with a broken foot suffered in training camp and then with a knee injury that required surgery.

The Lions have shown patience in the 24-year-old, but Lions General Manager Martin Mayhew said earlier this year that this is "a critical year for him" to prove his durability.

"It's very important," Fox said of this year. "I've had some unfortunate luck in the past, but that's behind me now and I'm ready to put that in the rear-view mirror."

Fox is currently as one of five tackles on the Lions roster, all which have a good shot of making the 53-man roster. The group includes recent first-round pick Riley Reiff.

"We have some great guys, some great coaches and great guys," Fox said. "We've got older guys, there's so much you can learn from them, and just a talented group altogether. It should be a good year."


(mlive.com)

PEORIA, Ariz. — They all wear midnight blue and white, but some bleed green and orange.

The San Diego Padres have five players in camp -- including two non-roster invitees -- that attended the University of Miami: first baseman Yonder Alonso, center fielder Blake Tekotte and catchers Yasmani Grandal, Jason Hagerty and Eddy Rodriguez.

“Every time we play with a fellow teammate or someone that played at Miami, it’s really like a family,” Grandal said. “Even if you didn’t play with them, we all know each other.”

Grandal and Alonso came from the Cincinnati Reds in a five-player deal for pitcher Mat Latos. Both players speak passionately about “the U,” as Miami is commonly referred to. Although the school is mostly known for football, its baseball program is just as rich in history.

They’re just two of 38 former Hurricanes on professional baseball rosters from a program that in baseball circles is widely known as one of the best in the country.

“The only reason they talk about the football team is because the publicity they get, but we’ve had almost the same history as they have,” Grandal said. “We’re a good program as well. I think both programs are known nationwide. It’s just a good system they got there whether it’s for football or baseball. We’ve both been successful.”

Grandal spent three seasons as a Hurricane. He played with Alonso during his freshman year. He said Alonso taught him a lot, including how to lead the team.

“That’s the thing about Miami, once you learn the system -- once you learn how to play Hurricane baseball – you try to pass that on,” Grandal said.
Grandal always saw former Hurricanes like Aubrey Huff, Pat Burrell and John Jay in the batting cages in the offseason. They always gave him tips to help him improve. The 53rd-ranked prospect by Baseball America said he always wanted to be listed with those players in the school’s media guide.

“More and more you see guys getting up and doing big things,” Grandal said. “Those big things go all the way back to the University of Miami.”
Grandal has a tattoo of the school’s logo inked inside of a baseball with a cross surrounding it. Alonso has a tattoo of the logo as well -- a big orange and green “U” on his shoulder.

“That says enough right there,” Alonso said when asked what the university means to him.

Alonso spent three seasons in Coral Gables, Fla. He still spends his offseason working out at the school’s facilities. Alonso grew up idolizing the program because he appreciated the way Miami played the game.

“A lot of swag,” Alonso said. “They knew they belonged, which is something big. You grow up watching them, imitating them and playing like them.”
At Miami, Alonso became good friends with Alex Rodriguez, who originally had committed to the Hurricanes in high school before he signed his first professional contract with the Seattle Mariners.

Their relationship started when Alonso asked Rodriguez if he could hit with him. Rodriguez thought it was funny Alonso wanted to compare himself to a professional baseball player, but agreed to Alonso’s request.

They went on to hit together for two months straight.

“Even to this day, I just talked to him a couple days ago and we were talking about how it was going with camp and (Padres manager) Bud Black,” Alonso said. “It’s just nice to have someone that knows the game that has been around the game for several years.”

Grandal and Alonso make sure to help current players on the team. It can become a difficult task now that they don’t reside on the East Coast for the majority of the year, but they understand how much the interaction with professional players benefited their play on the field.

“It’s a tradition, it’s an honor,” Alonso said. “With all of that said, you got to make sure you fit that role very well. If you don’t, it doesn’t sit very well with the people around there. You got to make sure that you not only carry it on the field but carry it outside the field, too.”


(utsandiego.com)

Detroit tackle Jason Fox said he injured his right knee during Thursday's practice, which is why he was placed on injured reserve.

Fox injured his left knee in college, but sustained an injury to the right knee this week. He expects to have surgery, but said it has not been scheduled yet.

"It happened over time, but it was something that happened yesterday that was kind of the last straw," Fox said. "As a team, we felt it was best to get it taken care of right now."

Fox, a fourth-round draft pick out of Miami (Fla.) in 2010, sustained a foot injury prior to this season and had not played this year.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Fox does not need reconstructive knee surgery, but would not reveal details of the injury.

"Probably something that will be better taken care of sooner rather than later," Schwartz said. "It's really yet to be seen what is going to be done, but he was able to finish practice (on Thursday). By being able to get it (surgery) done, it gives him a good chance to get started on the offseason.

"He's been inactive since he came back from the other injury. Unfortunately, he's been injured a good portion of his first two years. Hopefully we can get this behind him."

Click here to order Jason Fox’s proCane Rookie Card.


(mlive.com)

ALLEN PARK -- There was a Fox sighting at Detroit Lions practice on Friday morning.

Second-year offensive tackle Jason Fox participated in warmup stretches and only lightly during individual drills. The 6-foot-6, 314-pounder hadn't practiced since injuring his foot on August 6.


(mlive.com)

Jason Fox is out of his walking boot, but after almost a month on the sidelines, the second-year offensive tackle is realistic about what his role with the Lions will be when he returns.

"I'm here just to do whatever they want me to do," Fox said Tuesday. "Obviously, I'm a competitive guy. I want to play as much as possible. I want to help this team win, but with me missing the better part of camp, it's going to be tough coming back to earn a job right away."

With starter Jeff Backus out with a chest injury, Fox filled in as the Lions' first-team left tackle for the first week of training camp. A fourth-round pick out of Miami last year, Fox showed signs of progress after barely playing as a rookie, but he lost his grip on the top backup job when he limped off the practice field with a foot injury Aug. 6.

Corey Hilliard, who filled in at right tackle early in camp, started the Lions' first two exhibition games at left tackle and has been working at right guard since Backus' return before the third exhibition game.

Fox said he doesn't consider his injury a setback -- "It's a part of the game, and I just got to make the most of it when I come back," he said -- and neither he nor Lions coach Jim Schwartz has put a definitive timetable on his return.

"I don't know if it's a big step (that he's out of the boot)," Schwartz said. "It's part of his progression."


(freep.com)

ALLEN PARK — Detroit drafted Jason Fox in the fourth round of last year's NFL draft despite the knee surgery the big offensive tackle had in December, following his senior season, and the injured hamstring he sustained the following March, while working out for scouts at the University of Miami Pro Day.

The 6-foot-6, 314-pounder had the physical presence to play either right or left tackle in the pros. The Lions weren't looking for immediate help on the line, so he'd be able to develop slowly.

Unfortunately, it's been even slower than Fox and the Lions anticipated, as he spent most of his rookie season on the inactive list and suffered a foot injury early-on this training camp. Now that he's out of his walking boot, Fox hopes to make the most of any opportunity he gets once he's fully recovered, yet he remains realistic.

"I'm here to do whatever they want me to do," he said. "Obviously, I'm a competitive guy. I want to play as much as possible. I want to help this team win. But with me missing the better part of camp, it's going to be tough coming back to earn a job right away. Whatever they expect me to do, I'm ready to do, and help this team."

Though his return date is unknown - the Lions will play it safe in bringing the youngster back, rather than risk re-injuring the foot - Fox is taking it day by day. Setbacks happen, but it's up to the player to prepare himself as best he can while sidelined.

"I'm not trying to look at it (as a setback)," he said. "It's a part of the game. I've just got to make the most of it when I come back, and try to prove to my coaches and teammates that I'm ready to help and contribute.

"I'm feeling good right now, and I'm just working as hard as I can to get back as soon as possible."


(mlive.com)

Offensive tackle Jason Fox also had a cast replaced by a walking boot on his left foot and was on the practice field Tuesday.

“They’re almost the exact same situation,” coach Jim Schwartz said, comparing Fox to Fairley.

The injury to Fox did not require surgery.

“It’s just the first part of the rehab I’m doing,” Fox said. “Now I can start rehabbing and get back as soon as possible.”



(foxsportsdetroit.com)

Detroit Lions OT Jason Fox (foot) is lost with a foot injury and there's still not definitive word on when he might return.





(kffl.com)

ALLEN PARK - The once-dire situation at offensive tackle for the Detroit Lions is starting to improve. Jason Fox, who suffered a foot injury last Saturday, received good medical news and, according to Lions head coach Jim Schwartz, is just week to week. Fox did not suffer a fracture or require surgery on the left foot he injured on Saturday.


(mlive.com)

Detroit Lions offensive tackle Jason Fox is in North Carolina visiting Dr. Robert Anderson, the man who performed surgery on Nick Fairley's foot last week. Fox hurt his foot during a drill on Saturday morning and was seen wearing a walking boot and using crutches after practice.

Considering they both injured their foot and visited the same specialist, the obvious conclusion to jump to is that Fox also broke his foot. However, Lions head coach Jim Schwartz says Fox's injury is something different, although he declined to expand on that statement.


(prideofdetroit.com)

ALLEN PARK — The hits just keep on coming for the Detroit Lions. Saturday's victim was second-year offensive tackle Jason Fox, who left the practice field early, and showed up in the locker room with crutches and wearing a boot on his left foot.

The Lions are now dangerously thin at the position with only four healthy tackles on the roster.

"Yeah, tackles, we've had a lot of guys drop," Lions coach Jim Schwartz admitted after practice. "With (Jeff) Backus before we started, (Gosder) Cherilus hasn't been ready for (daily) duty, and obviously, Jason.

"Jason was getting a lot of reps out there and was doing really well. Hopefully we'll get some good news on him, and he won't be too long."


(mlive.com)

The Detroit Lions have been in training camp for almost a week now, and I’m just itching to hear some news about some of the new guys who might be playing a big role during the 2011 football season. There has never been a more anticipated year for the Lions than the one they are embarking upon right now, and now that they have the pads on, I want to know what’s what with some players.

The Lions are the new hotness, and everybody knows the basic story lines for the honolulu blue and silver for the upcoming season. Can Matthew Stafford stay healthy and can the Lions turn last season’s great ending into a great start this year?

They have already suffered a set-back with prized first round pick Nick Fairley sidelined for up to 3 or 4 weeks, but the rest of camp has been going pretty smoothly. Strange to say for a team that only a couple of years ago couldn’t win a game to save it’s life, but this team is set at almost every position. The only question really is going to be who will start on the other side of the field opposite Chris Houston at cornerback. It remains to be seen who will win that position, but with the way the other teams are cutting players to get under the salary cap, the person who starts for the Lions might still be on another team, waiting for the axe.

Aside from the Suhs and the Johnsons who have national commercials, I want to know about a couple of players who could play a huge role this year, but we really don’t know yet. The first three draft choices are pretty well known commodities. The following is a list of five players I’ll be eyeballing closely this preseason.

1. Jason Fox. This could be the eventual successor to the much maligned Jeff Backus. Being the draftnik that I am, I was ecstatic to get a solid tackle in the fourth round last year who, if it wasn’t for an injury, might have been a second round selection. The injury kept him from performing until the last game last year, but nobody benefited more from the layoff than this guy. He claims to be 100 percent now and after a year of waiting, the Lions will finally see what he brings to the table.


(sidelionreport.com)

ALLEN PARK - Detroit Lions tackle Jason Fox certainly hopes his teammate Jeff Backus returns healthy from his chest injury but, really, there's no reason for him to hurry back.

While Backus is sidelined, Fox is getting all the reps at left tackle with the No. 1 offense. That isn't expected to change much when the veterans are allowed to begin practicing on Thursday.

Regardless, Fox wants to get the most out of all the snaps he can.

"Absolutely. It's an opportunity to get reps with (the No. 1 offense) and I've got to take advantage of it and do the best I can,'' Fox said.

A fourth-round pick last year, Fox is finally healthy after two seasons of battling a sore knee. He played hurt in his final season at Miami and didn't play in the bowl game so he could have surgery.

"That whole year, I played injured and then I battled it last year,'' Fox said. "I told a couple of people that this is kind of a new feeling, it's been awhile since I've felt like this. I'm not trying to think about last year, this year is a new year and I'm just trying to improve every day and go out and compete.

"I'm feeling good. Now it's time to go out and get better every day and compete with these guys and, ultimately, win a spot.''


(mlive.com)

Allen Park— Left tackles not named Jeff Backus haven't seen much of the field for the Lions the last 10 seasons.

That's because Backus has started 160 consecutive games since entering the NFL in 2001, all at left tackle.

So, seeing a number other than 76 starting there during camp takes some getting used to.

"You don't want to see people get hurt, but it's allowed me to get some first-team reps and it's a good opportunity for me," said Jason Fox, filling in for Backus, who suffered a left pectoral injury during the offseason. "I just have to take advantage of it and get better every day."

Coach Jim Schwartz said at the beginning of camp the team had no immediate plans to acquire veteran help to guard against Backus' injury.
So, that means Fox, in his second season, is being relied on.

It's a stark contrast from where Fox was at this point last season. He wasn't competing for much because a right knee injury that bothered him his entire senior year at Miami lingered into his rookie season, limiting him during camp.

This year, it turns out the lockout was a blessing for Fox, in the sense it allowed him to rest his knee and get 100 percent healthy heading into camp.

"I'm just really fortunate this year that the knee isn't bothering me," he said.

Fox, a fourth-round pick, says it's amazing how better prepared players are heading into their second camp.

"Year 1, you are just trying to figure out how everything goes and the schedules and what practice is going to be like," he said. "This year, you know what to expect and you can totally focus on the task at hand."

And it's a large task at that.

With Backus' injury, Corey Hilliard unable to practice until the new league year begins this week and starting right tackle Gosder Cherilus coming off microfracture knee surgery and not practicing much, Fox is being counted on to be ready earlier this season.

"I'm trying to be the most efficient I can at every position," said Fox, who wasn't on the active 45-man roster until the final four games last season. "If they want me to play tackle on the left or the right or even if they want to stick me inside, I'm trying to learn every position and just become the best I can so I can help this team wherever they put me."

Getting to know … Jason Fox
Position: Offensive tackle
Ht./wt.: 6-foot-7/303
Age: 23
College: Miami
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
Experience: Second year


(detnews.com)

This should have been a big off-season for Jason Fox, a chance to prove he has recovered from the knee injury that limited him as a rookie and that he's good enough to be the Lions' No. 3 offensive tackle this fall.

Instead, the NFL lockout has kept Fox from showing coaches how much he has progressed, and if the labor stoppage lingers it could cost him valuable practice reps as the Lions and other teams rush to get ready for the season.

"It's frustrating, but it's what it is," Fox said. "You can't complain, you deal with it and make the most of it, and when you get back that's your time to prove to the coaches that you haven't been slacking off, you still retained the offense, you're still out there and ready to compete. This is a different year for me. No. 1, it's not my rookie year, and No. 2, I'm coming in it fully healthy and not still dealing with a lingering knee issue."

Fox tore the patella tendon in his right knee during his senior season at Miami (Fla.) and played sparingly last year. He was inactive the first 12 games, played a goal-line series against the Packers in December and filled in at right tackle after Corey Hilliard hurt his knee in the third quarter of the Lions' season-ending win over the Vikings.

Time off has allowed his knee to heal fully, but he was happy to get back to work with teammates during player-led workouts this month.


(sacbee.com)

Lions OT Jason Fox says time off during the lockout has allowed his troublesome right knee to completely heal.

Fox had surgery on the knee as a rookie and didn't play until Week 17. "I was so anxious to play last year that I probably didn't give it the rest it needed during OTAs," said Fox. "... I kind of rushed it a little bit." Fox will compete to be the Lions' swing tackle behind Jeff Backus and Gosder Cherilus.



(rotoworld.com)

BIRMINGHAM - Offensive tackle Jason Fox heard the draft rumors and tried to ignore them. Fox, a fourth-round draft pick last year out of the University of Miami, heard the rumblings that the Detroit Lions might select an offensive tackle in the first round.

"I try not to listen to that stuff, but you hear it,'' Fox said. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't hear that stuff. But they didn't draft a first-round tackle so I guess there's nothing worth talking about.''

One of the reasons there was talk about the Lions possibly taking a tackle is because of the possibly unsettled situation at that position. The Lions could either be set at that spot or have great upheaval - or anything in-between.

Left tackle Jeff Backus is coming off one of his best seasons, but he's on the final year of his contract and if he's allowed to hit free agency, he's going to get some offers. Right tackle Gosder Cherilus is coming off microfracture knee surgery which means there is a degree of uncertainty in his ability to fully recover. It's possible Backus will get re-signed and Cherilus will be just fine. It's also possible the Lions might need Fox to enter the picture.

"We've got a lot of great players on the offensive line and last year was a great learning experience for me. Guys like Jeff taught me a lot of things and now that I'm healthy, I expect to compete for a starting job,'' Fox said.

Fox wasn't competing for anything during his rookie season because a knee injury that had bothered him for his entire senior year continued to limit him. Fox didn't participate in Miami's bowl game because he had surgery on the knee, a move that he had hoped would ensure that he'd be healthy for his first NFL training camp.

"It lingered all last year. It never was 100 percent healthy,'' Fox said. "Now that I've crossed over that hump and I'm healthy again, it's a great feeling.''

Fox is taking part in the Lions' player-organized workouts at Birmingham Detroit Country Day. The Lions, who had 32 players participating today, will finish the four-day session Thursday. If the lockout continues into June, the Lions are expected to have another player-organized workout early that month.

Because he was missing development time during last year, Fox really wasn't a factor in possibly replacing the injurd Cherilus late in the season. That job went to Corey Hilliard.

"As an athlete, you always want to play. I'm a team guy and I'm going to root for whoever's out there, but at the same time, I never missed a game in college until the knee injury,'' Fox said. "I'm just a super competitive guy who wants to be out there helping his team. Last year's in the past and this is a brand new year.''

Fox said he's ready to do whatever is necessary to help the team, whether that's at left tackle, right tackle or even moving inside. The problem for Fox is that because of the current nine-week lockout, the Lions' coaching staff hasn't seen him in awhile.

"I think they're ready to see me 100 percent healthy, too,'' Fox said. "That's another reason I'm excited to get back. I want to prove what I can do and let them see me 100 percent healthy.''



(mlive.com)

Welcome to our 1st annual and long overdue proCane Rankings where we look back at the 2010 NFL season and rank the 43 proCanes that took snaps in 2010 (except for Sinorice Moss who was placed on IR before the start of the season).

Stay tuned as we countdown from number 43 to number 1. Our rankings are based on each player’s performance last year. In August we’ll go ahead and re-rank the player’s based on our 2011 expectations. For now read our review of each player’s 2010 season and where they rank overall. Enjoy!

43. Sinorice Moss WR NY Giants/Philadelphia Eagles: Moss, who was having another good Training Camp before injuring his groin and eventually being placed on Injured Reserve before the beginning of the 2010 season, didn’t play a down last year and was eventually released by the Giants who drafted him in the 2nd round of the 2006 Draft. Moss signed with the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason and is poised to breakout in 2011 with the Eagles who have historically filled their roster with WRs that are not necessarily superstars.

42. Dedrick Epps TE Miami Dolphins: Epps who was signed to the Dolphins practice squad in September was signed to the Active Roster in December and played in three games for the Dolphins. Though he didn’t record a reception in those three games, he did get several snaps and looks to be an active backup for the Dolphins in 2011.

41. Bruce Johnson CB NY Giants: After a very surprising 2009 season where Johnson played a significant role as the nickel corner for the Giants after being signed as an undrafted free agent, there were high expectations for him coming into 2010. Johnson lasted through Week 7 when he was placed on injured reserve following arthroscopic knee surgery. He only totaled 5 tackles and no interceptions after having 46 tackles, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions and 1 TD in 2009. Look for him to bounce back in 2011 and help his fellow proCanes Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips in the Giants’ secondary.

40. Jason Fox OL Detroit Lions: The Lions drafted Fox in the 4th Round of the 2010 draft with the intention to groom his as a tackle for the future. Fox was recuperating from offseason knee surgery for most of the season, but did finally see action in the last game of the season where he didn’t give up a sack and played fairly well. Coach Linehan has been impressed with Fox’s progress since his surgery and is counting on him being an integral part of the Lions 2011 offensive line.

39. Spencer Adkins LB Atlanta Falcons: In his second year as a Falcon, Adkins doubled his tackle total posting six in 2010 while playing primarily on special teams. Adkins was on the active roster for 9 of the 16 games of 2010 and has yet to crack the starting lineup for the Falcons but is a valuable contributor on special teams.

38. Randy Phillips S Detroit Lions: Phillips signed as an undrafted free agent with the Lions and made a strong impression in Rookie Camp and Training Camp, so much so that he earned playing time for the Lions the first 3 weeks of the season. After underperforming, he was released and later placed on the practice squad and then was reinstated to the active roster in Week 16 against the Miami Dolphins where he forced 2 fumbles. Phillips was still recovering from offseason surgeries and looks to compete for a roster spot with the Lions again this season. Having his former secondary coach from “The U,” Tim Walton as the Defensive Backs coach in Detroit has helped Phillips’ progress.

37. Damione Lewis DL Houston Texans: After signing last offseason with the New England Patriots, and expected to make a big contribution to that defense, Lewis was cut before the beginning of the season after not fitting in as a DE in the Patriots’ 3-4 scheme and also having a rough offseason as he dealt with his mother’s death. He was signed by the Texans and played for them in Week 8 and became a regular contributor on defense for the rest of the season. Lewis can still be an effective DT in a 4-3 scheme and look for him to be a contributor next year after accumulating 17 tackles and one sack in only 10 games.

36. Clinton Portis RB Washington Redskins: After playing in only eights games during the 2009 Season, Portis under new head coach Mike Shanahan changed his attitude towards off-season workouts and recommitted himself to the Redskins. Most expected him to have a big year, but unfortunately again his season was cut short as he played in only 5 games and had 227 yards rushing and only two touchdowns. The Redskins have since released Portis, and until the lockout is resolved we don’t know who he will be playing for next season. Because of his recent injuries most think he is no longer a starting back in the NFL but could be a serviceable 3rd down back especially because of his solid blocking and receiving skills.

35. Leon Williams LB Dallas Cowboys: Williams played mainly special teams for the Cowboys last season as he suited up for 11 games and totaled eight tackles and one fumble recovery. Williams was key in the Cowboys’ punt and kickoff return games and did play some on defense. The Cowboys elected to not tender Williams and he is currently a free agent. Look for him to find a spot on a team in 2011 as a special teams player.

Check back tomorrow to see which proCanes were ranked 34th through 26th!

For Jason Fox, this past season was the redshirt year he never had.

A fourth-round pick out of Miami (Fla.), Fox started from the moment he stepped on campus as a Hurricane, 47 straight games in all.

As a rookie offensive lineman with the Lions, he played sparingly and spent most of his time in the weight room, still recovering from college knee surgery.

"Early in the year my knees were kind of bothering me still, so that kind of really limited me early and I just had to wait for my shot," said Fox, who suffered a torn patella tendon in his right knee as a senior at Miami. "I got some of it (in the season finale), and just for the situation I was dealt, I think I handled it well. But like I said, I'm not done, that was just the beginning."

Fox played the second half of the Lions' Jan. 2 win over the Vikings at right tackle after Corey Hilliard left with a knee injury. Aside from a goal-line series against the Packers, they were the only offensive snaps Fox, who was inactive for the season's first 12 games, played all year.

"I shook the cobwebs off the first series," Fox said. "But after that I felt like I held my own, and it's something to build on going into 2011."

Fox worked at both tackle spots and practiced some guard during the season. More important, offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said Fox made noticeable gains in size and strength that should help him compete for a job next year.

"He looks really good," Linehan said. "I think he's getting (his knee troubles) behind him now and looks like somebody that's now had a year out of a knee surgery as opposed to whatever it was, six months. That's a big difference. ... It's really, I think, going to bode well for his off-season being healthy."



(freep.com)

DETROIT — It took until the final game of the season, but Jason Fox finally saw some action on the field.

When backup tackle Corey Hilliard – who was in for injured starter Gosder Cherilus – went down with an injured knee against Minnesota, Detroit's fourth-round pick finally got to play.

On Fox's first snap, Chad Greenway shot the gap between the right guard and tackle. Still, he was able to get just enough of the Vikings linebacker to push him away from running back Jahvid Best, who took the handoff up the left side of the line for three yards.

Overall, the Lions ran toward the right side four times for 5 yards after Hilliard left the game with 12:40 left in the third quarter. It hardly qualifies as a dominant showing, but the rookie didn't give up a sack either.

"I didn't play perfect," Fox said after the game. "I kind of had to knock the cobwebs off (on) the first series or so. After that, I feel like I played decent. Something to build on at the end of the season, going into next year."

The 6-7, 303-pounder out of Miami spent much of the season on the inactive list. Despite being active for the Lions' previous three games, Fox didn't actually play.

After whetting his appetite in the Lions' final game of the season, the 22-year-old wants to make plenty of improvements to his overall game – strength, footwork, technique.

He'll have to in order to achieve his fairly lofty goals for next season.

"(I have) to work hard this offseason to put myself in the best situation possible so I can be a starter next year," Fox said.



(mlive.com)