Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Short-term IR still possible for Kyle Van Noy

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Kyle Van Noy had successful core muscle surgery on Thursday and as he returned to the Detroit Lions' practice facility Monday, head coach Jim Caldwell said he still has not made a decision on what to do with his rookie linebacker.

Caldwell did not rule out using short-term injured reserve, where Van Noy will have to sit for the first six weeks of the season but would not be eligible to come back to play until Week 9 -- if the team decided to use that option. Caldwell said it was "certainly" still an option for Van Noy.

"A lot of it depends on him and in terms of how quickly he heals," Caldwell said. "So we'll wait and see. He just got back last night, so our guys [need to] have a chance to talk with him and look at him and get a sense of things.

"I'm sure it'll be happening today so we'll get a sense here in the next couple days."

If the Lions move him to short-term injured reserve, this would open up a spot on the 53-man roster for the team to add another player.

Van Noy had been competing for the starting strongside linebacker position during the preseason. With Van Noy out, either Tahir Whitehead or Ashlee Palmer will end up starting against the New York Giants on Monday night.

Caldwell declined to say who has won the job, but that the team has an idea which way it will go with the position.

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