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Lions place TE Hockenson in IR
By: Mike Stiles - Tuesday, December 3, 2019

T.J. Hockenson in action against Oakland from this season (photo courtesy of DFP)

(ALLEN PARK) – Detroit Lions rookie tight end T.J. Hockenson has been placed on injured reserve after suffering a right ankle injury in the fourth quarter Thursday against Chicago. Hockenson was taken to the locker room after the injury and did not return. Lions coach Matt Patricia doesn't know yet whether Hockenson will need surgery, just that the No. 8 overall pick in the 2019 draft will not play again this season. It was the second major injury for Hockenson this season along with a concussion he suffered against Kansas City while trying to hurdle a Chiefs defender. Hockenson finished his season with 32 catches for 367 yards and two touchdowns, with 131 of those yards coming in his debut against Arizona on Sept. 8. With Hockenson on injured reserve, it could open up more opportunities for free-agent signing Jesse James, veteran Logan Thomas and rookie Isaac Nauta, who was promoted from the practice squad last week. This move comes two days after the Lions placed quarterback Jeff Driskel on injured reserve and signed quarterback Kyle Sloter off Arizona's practice squad, another signal-caller move for a team that has been rotating quarterbacks behind Matthew Stafford since the end of last season. Driskel injured his hamstring against Washington last Sunday and was described as "day-to-day" by Detroit coach Matt Patricia leading up to Thursday's 24-20 loss to Chicago. Driskel himself said he was making progress day-by-day, but it wasn't enough to play. Driskel's season is over and because he's a free agent heading into 2020, perhaps so is his time in Detroit. Driskel lost all three of his starts for the Lions, completing 59% of his passes for 685 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions.

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