ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions are 3-1 at the quarter pole of the season. They've found ways to survive the losses in their pass rush, getting more than anyone ever dreamed of out of second-year end Anthony Zettel.

This week, they'll have an extra option at their disposal. Defensive end Armonty Bryant is set to come off a four-game suspension for substance abuse in time to play Sunday's home game against the Carolina Panthers, if the Lions decide by Saturday that they want to add him to the 53-man roster.

Doing so will mean cutting another player, and that's where it becomes a more difficult decision. Bryant brings with him obvious talent and evident risk, and Detroit will have to weight those factors as it opens a practice window for him this week leading up to Saturday's decision.

The appeal is what he can bring to pass-rush situations. At 6 feet 4 inches and 265 pounds, he can excel out of subpackages like he did last season, his first in Detroit, when he recorded three sacks in just five games. That ranked third on the team. The year before, he recorded 5.5 sacks in 14 games with the Cleveland Browns.

The downside is reliability and noise. Bryant has a bit of an injury history now, but that doesn't hold a candle to the track record he has for getting in trouble. This season's four-game suspension is the third slate of revoked games in a year. He missed four games with the Browns for a performance-enhancing drugs violation, three with the Lions for substance abuse following an arrest with the Browns and now these past four for substance abuse.

Dating back to college, he has arrests on charges of selling marijuana twice and for driving under the influence of alcohol. Between the trouble and the injuries, Bryant has missed 32 games in four and a quarter seasons. He's only played in 36.

The Lions were well aware of Bryant's risk when they brought him back on a one-year deal this offseason. That's why his deal is for $855,000 with only $40,000 of it guaranteed. They like his talent, but they also need him to show he can stay on the field.

"We'll take a look and see what happens," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said, the only commitment he'd make one way or another.

The decision is likely to be Bryant versus undrafted rookie Jeremiah Vaologa and newly signed veteran George Johnson. Vaologa got a sack against the Atlanta Falcons but has struggled against the run, which is more of Johnson's specialty at 6 feet 4 inches and 260 pounds.

The Lions could, of course, decide to cut a player at another position. But given the need for extra bodies on the offensive line and the roster spots the Lions reserve for special teamers, that appears less likely than cutting straight from the defensive end room.

Detroit's group has been mostly stout in setting the edge in run defense through the first four games, with Zettel, Ezekiel Ansah and Cornelius Washington holding much of that responsibility down. They rank 13th with 10 sacks. Their sack rate ranked 18th entering Sunday's 14-7 win over the Minnesota Vikings, according to Football Outsiders.

Of the three ends in question, Vaologa is the only one eligible for the practice squad. As a rookie with very little college experience to draw on, the Lions have reason to believe he could use that development.

But they will also want to find the best option for the 53-man roster right now. At 3-1, they are tied with the Green Bay Packers for first place in the NFC North. The defense has been a strength, but with two straight games decided on a final drive, the Lions will want to keep it that way.

They have this week to figure out that part of the equation.