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Ameer Abdullah likely won't be seen in uniform again until 2017.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

ALLEN PARK -- Ameer Abdullah's season appears to be nearing an official end.

The Detroit Lions running back has been on injured reserve since reportedly tearing ligaments in his foot during a Week 2 loss against Tennessee. The club can bring back one player who is on IR, per the new NFL rules that took effect this season, though it appears linebacker Jon Bostic -- not Abdullah -- is going to get that spot.

Bostic, who injured his foot during a joint practice with Pittsburgh in training camp, began running on the side with trainers during practice on Wednesday. That signals he is nearing a return to practice, which would officially end Abdullah's season after just 18 carries for 101 yards.

Jim Caldwell declined to comment even though Bostic appears as though he'll be practicing in a matter of days.

"We'll see," Caldwell said.

Bostic's return will help bolster the depth at linebacker, where DeAndre Levy has played just one game and Kyle Van Noy has been traded to New England. But it also dashes what had been a lot of optimism for Abdullah's rise to the top of the depth chart at running back.

Abdullah led the Lions in rushing last year as a rookie, and had moved into the featured role during the offseason. He looked great out of the gate, too, averaging 5.3 yards on 12 carries in the opener against Indianapolis, then 6.3 yards on six carries against Tennessee before suffering the injury.

He also caught five passes for 57 yards, and scored his lone touchdown of the year.

Detroit is left with Theo Riddick, Zach Zenner, Justin Forsett and Dwayne Washington at the position, though Washington hasn't played the last four games because of injury and then an inactive listing.