Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Jim Caldwell: Nick Fairley doesn't need surgery right now

ALLEN PARK, Mich. – The Detroit Lions still don’t have a timetable for the return of defensive tackle Nick Fairley, but the team has received a bit of good news about him.

He apparently won’t need surgery as of now.

“Probably same answer I gave before. He’s still in the evaluation process,” Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. “But he’s had a couple of evaluations and the doctors have stressed that rest and some healing will hopefully give them a little clearer picture of what should be done.

“But right now, it’s non-surgical at this point.”

Fairley injured his knee during the first half of the Lions' come-from-behind win over Atlanta in London.

Fairley was spotted Friday walking out of the Lions’ facility in Allen Park, Michigan, on crutches but appeared to be in good spirits and said he was feeling good.

To replace him, the Lions are going to have C.J. Mosley start and give increased snaps to rookie Caraun Reid. Beyond that, the Lions signed Andre Fluellen, who can play defensive tackle or defensive end, and also could move ends Darryl Tapp or Jason Jones inside depending on the situation.

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