Lions’ Louis Delmas might be out ‘a few weeks’ [Detroit Free Press]

Nov. 26--It appears as if the Detroit Lions will be without at least one defensive starter when they face the NFL's top-ranked offense next week in the New Orleans Saints.

Safety Louis Delmas indicated on Twitter late Thursday that he will be out "a few weeks" with the knee injury he suffered in the first half of the Lions'Thanksgiving loss to the Green Bay Packers</org>.

"To all my fans thanks so very Much for all the support," Delmas wrote. "I will be fine just a minor set back For a few weeks Don't worry I'll be good. Love"

Delmas limped off the field late in the first quarter, after defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch tackled James Starks for a one-yard loss and rolled into Delmas' right leg.

Chris Harris replaced Delmas for the final three quarters and is the likely starter if Delmas can't play against the Saints. Harris was solid in a reserve role in the second half of last weekend's win over the Carolina Panthers but gave up a 65-yard touchdown pass to James Jones in the third quarter Thursday.

On Tuesday, Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Harris, whom the Lions claimed off waivers last month from the Chicago Bears, was more than an insurance policy.

"We got lucky," Schwartz said. "It's hard to find experienced safeties, particularly in the middle of the season when we had had a couple injuries, but Chris fit the bill. He's familiar with a lot of the things we do on defense; he's got experience. When called upon, he can go make a play, which he did in the Carolina game."

The Lions could be without several other key players against quarterback Drew Brees and a Saints offense that leads the league in total yards (436.9) and passing yards (319.4) per game.

Cornerbacks Chris Houston and Brandon McDonald also left Thursday's game with leg injuries, running back Kevin Smith suffered a high ankle sprain, running back Jahvid Best remains out indefinitely with a concussion and, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is awaiting word on what discipline he'll face for stomping on Packers offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith.

Suh could be fined and suspended.

Schwartz said on SiriusXM NFL radio today that Delmas and Houston "went through some other tests today" but it's too early to say whether any of his injured players will be available for next week.

Schwartz said on Sirius that Best is "improving, but he still wasn't ready and it's been five weeks or whatever it's been so it was prudent to put him on the injured reserve and not to press an issue."

"Jahvid's a guy that we want to have play a lot of football for us over the years and as much as we want to win this year we're not going to jeopardize his health," Schwartz said.

Contact Dave Birkett: 313-222-2037 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @freeplions.

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