Detroit Lions' Ameer Abdullah says he had a Lisfranc tear last year

Dave Birkett | Detroit Free Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Lions' Ameer Abdullah's foot feeling healthy Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah discusses his return from 2016 foot surgery on May 18, 2017. By Dave Birkett, DFP.

Ameer Abdullah rehabbed maniacally in an attempt to return late last season, but given the nature of his injury, the Detroit Lions' No. 1 running back never was a candidate to see the field.

Abdullah admitted in a recent interview with fellow former Nebraska standout Adam Carriker that he suffered a Lisfranc tear in a Week 2 loss to the Tennessee Titans last September.

“I ended up tearing my Lisfranc the second game of the season against the Tennessee Titans, separating my foot, so that was a bummer for me,” Abdullah said in a May interview on The Carriker Chronicles. “But I’m shaking back good now. It’s helped me understand my body more, so I’m a lot more penciled in on what I need to do as far as recovery, make sure I’m (doing all the) right things for my body to make sure I’m ready for this 2017 season.”

Abdullah said last month it wasn't until late February or early March that he felt 100% recovered from surgery.

In January, after the Lions' season ended with a 26-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Abdullah said his goal in rehab was to return for the playoffs.

While most Lisfranc tears are not career-threatening, the injury, which affects the ligaments in the middle of the foot, typically requires extensive rehabs after surgery.

According to a study of NFL players from 2000-10 published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, most players who suffered a Lisfranc injury returned with "no statistically significant" change in performance the following season, though two of 28 players who underwent surgery for the injury during that time period never played again.

For running backs, who put immense pressure on their feet by cutting, the results are mixed.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell suffered a Lisfranc injury in 2013 that did not require surgery. He missed about six weeks and remains one of the best running backs in the NFL today.

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Maurice Jones-Drew suffered a Lisfranc injury that required surgery in 2012, and he averaged just 3.2 yards per carry over two seasons upon his return. Jones-Drew suffered the injury at age 27, in his seventh NFL season.

Abdullah turns 24 later this month and has played in parts of two seasons.

Lions coach Jim Caldwell reiterated Wednesday that Abdullah enters this season as the team's starting running back.

As a rookie, Abdullah, a second-round pick out of Nebraska in 2015, ran for a team-high 597 yards before undergoing surgery to repair a torn shoulder labrum after the season.

Last year, Abdullah ran for 101 yards on 18 carries before leaving in the first half of the Lions' second game.

The Lions also return Theo Riddick, Zach Zenner and Dwayne Washington at running back, though Riddick has been limited this spring in his return from double-wrist surgery.

The team signed veteran Matt Asiata for backfield insurance last week.

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

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