"Nick Fairley had a disappointing rookie season by any measure. He had one sack, missed six games and wasn't always a factor when he was on the field.

But Fairley's lack of production, brought on by a training-camp foot injury, hasn't done anything to sour the Lions on his future.

"I've had a lot of experience with guys who have had broken feet and screws put in and things like that, they've had the same experience," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said last week. "It probably won't be for a few months now in the off-season of rest before that thing will be in his rearview mirror. But I think we also saw enough when he was healthy to know that we have a really good player there and a guy that can affect the game and make plays for us.""