Wednesday the Detroit Lions placed veteran right guard TJ Lang on the injured reserve after playing one game with the team this year.
Lang a Metro Detroit native, who originally signed a three-year, $28.5 million contract with the Lions prior to the start of the 2017 has had his tenure in Motown marred by injury. Although the 31-year-old started in 13 games last season, Lang was consistently dealing with a variety of injuries including concussions and that to his foot. This year, it’s been back, hip and neck ailments that have kept him extremely limited as well as another concussion earlier in the season which is the sixth of his career.
Needless to say this may not be the end of the line for Lang in Detroit but also for his career in the NFL.
As far as the Lions’ situation goes, they can easily get out from under Lang’s contract as the veteran has no further guaranteed money left on his deal but does carry a $11,666,668 cap hit for 2019. Furthermore, Detroit would owe Lang a $500,000 roster bonus if he’s on the team the fifth day of the new league year in March.
In essence the dilemma with Lang pretty much solves itself for the Lions.
