Lions veteran DE suffers 'serious and significant' elbow injury

Marcus Davenport‘s first Lions campaign has been interrupted by the latest major injury of his career. The veteran edge rusher exited Sunday’s game with an elbow ailment, which he could not play through.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Davenport’s injury is “serious and significant.” Further testing will be needed to arrive at a firm diagnosis, but a long-term absence could be in store. Rapoport notes the 28-year-old could miss the remainder of the season due to the injury.

Davenport entered the league with high expectations as a first-round pick. However, he could not suit up for an entire campaign during any of his five years in New Orleans, and he took a one-year deal in free agency last year. That $13M Vikings accord did not pan out with an ankle sprain requiring surgery and limiting him to only four contests.

Unsurprisingly, the UTSA product’s free-agent stock took a hit. Davenport again inked a one-year contract on the open market, this time with the Lions. That $6M pact contained $3M guaranteed, a sign of the risk Detroit incurred by adding him. Davenport missed Week 2 due to a groin issue, but his 65% snap share on the field this season demonstrates how large of a role the Lions had planned for him as a complement to Aidan Hutchinson.

The former No. 2 pick currently leads the league with 6.5 sacks, so Detroit’s pass rush will be expected to remain potent even if Davenport is shut down for the rest of the year. Josh Paschal and James Houston will be counted on to fill his spot in the starting lineup. Ahead of another trip to free agency, meanwhile, Davenport’s status will be worth watching closely.