Detroit Lions' Kerry Hyder leaves preseason opener with leg injury

Dave Birkett | Detroit Free Press

INDIANAPOLIS - The Detroit Lions lost their sack leader from last season to what appears to be a significant leg injury in the first quarter of their preseason opener today against the Indianapolis Colts.

Kerry Hyder, who led the Lions with eight sacks a season ago, had to be carted off the field midway through the first quarter with what the Lions announced as a "lower leg injury."

Hyder clutched at the back of his left leg as he lay on the ground, before a cart came out to shuttle him to the locker room.

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The injury happened as Hyder was rushing Colts quarterback Scott Tolzien, when his left leg appeared to give out on him.

The Lions have been shorthanded at defensive end all of training camp as starting right end Ziggy Ansah is on the physically unable to perform list and top free-agent addition Cornelius Washington has been battling an ankle injury.

Washington returned to practice this week, but did not take part in team drills during joint practices with the Colts and did not dress for today's game.

Armonty Bryant, who opened the preseason on PUP as he recovered from 2016 knee surgery, is suspended for the first four games of the regular season.

Undrafted rookie Jeremiah Valoaga replaced Hyder at left end after his injury, while Anthony Zettel and another undrafted rookie, Alex Barrett, took most of the early snaps at right end today.

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

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