ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- As he was walking out of the Detroit Lions' locker room for the final time in 2013, linebacker Ashlee Palmer said he might have to have his left ankle operated on in the offseason.

Palmer injured the ankle early this season -- skipping some Thursday practices to rest it the first half of the year -- and said he is planning to get an MRI to see what damage might have been done.

“We’ll see,” Palmer said. “Not really sure. Probably just need a scope, get it cleaned out.”

He said plans on meeting with doctors to see if “it is necessary or not.”

Palmer played in every game this season for Detroit, making 27 tackles and recovering one fumble. The fifth-year pro has 78 tackles in his career after joining the Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2009.

He has played the last four seasons with the Lions and is under contract with the team for 2014.

In other injury news, tackle LaAdrian Waddle should not need any surgery on the left ankle he injured during the Lions' home finale against the New York Giants on Dec. 22.