By Michael Stets
T.J. Lang has been placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol after suffering a brain injury sometime during the Lions’ 30-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Monday night.
Lang, 30, became ill at practice on Wednesday and after being pulled from practice, doctors were able to determine he had suffered a concussion, according to Lions head coach Jim Caldwell.
“Sometimes these things don’t manifest themselves between 24 and 72 hours and this was one of those cases,” Caldwell told reporters at Allen Park on Thursday morning. “He was fine, no issues, all the way up until yesterday. We started practice and as practice starts he gets ill. We take him out of practice, get him inside, and then the doctors don’t come until after we finish with, obviously, submitting our medical report. So after they had the opportunity to take a look at him they determined that he should be placed in the concussion protocol. So that’s where he is at this particular point in time.”
Lang, who signed with the Lions in the offseason after spending his first eight seasons with the Packers, has been one of the best performers on the Lions’ offensive line this season. He’s started seven out of eight games, missing the Week 6 matchup against the New Orleans Saints with a back injury.
Lang’s status for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns is unclear as of now, but with several hurdles to clear within the concussion protocol–including clearance from an outside doctor–and the game just three days away, it’s highly doubtful that Lang suits up on Sunday.
Should Lang be unable to play against the Browns, it will likely be one of the two reserve linemen, Emmett Cleary or Don Barclay, playing in his place at right guard.