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Lions defensive end Jason Jones returned to the team Friday after dealing with an emergency with his son. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

ALLEN PARK -- Detroit Lions defensive end Jason Jones missed two days of practice this week after rushing to Nashville to be with his 7-month-old son.

Jones' son, Cannon, underwent emergency surgery this week to repair an unspecified issue. He is stable now, and Jones was able to return to practice Friday.

"It's the biggest relief," Jones told reporters in the locker room after practice. "I probably wouldn't have been here if he wasn't showing so much good signs of improvement. But he was improving well, so I decided that I was comfortable enough to leave."

Jones has started all 10 games this season and is an important piece to the defensive line. Detroit already is without starting defensive tackle Nick Fairley and has relied more heavily on Jones, who can play end or tackle.

But he missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday, which had cast doubt on his availability for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.

"Once I got the phone call," Jones said, "I was out of here."

Jones is expected to make the trip to Foxboro, Mass. on Saturday and be in the starting lineup Sunday.

Coach Jim Caldwell has been supportive of Jones' emergency, excusing Jones' absence immediately so that he could be with his family.

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