detroit

The Detroit Lions, already sagging under the burden of a 1-5 record (2-4 against the spread), took a brutal kick to the gut Wednesday when the NFL suspended defensive tackle Shaun Rogers for four games. The league reported that Rogers violated its policy on steroids and related substances. The Associated Press cites an NFL source that says the substance in question is an over-the-counter supplement.
Several Lions players have jumped to Rogers’ defense, saying the policy is confusing because it only lists banned ingredients rather than specific products. But handicappers will be more interested in the massive void the suspension leaves in the inside of Detroit’s D-line for Sunday’s matchup in Jersey against the New York Jets. Shaun Cody is already out with a dislocated toe; Cory Redding will once again move over from the left side to fill that gap, while Marcus Bell and Kalimba Edwards are reportedly getting the starting nod against New York.
Detroit’s 4-3 defense, which is one of the club’s few bright spots (ranked 11th in the league at 94.3 rushing yards allowed per game), will be seriously tested in the wake of the Rogers suspension. The question for Jets supporters is whether New York will be able to take advantage. The team has announced that RB Curtis Martin will not come off the physically unable to perform list until Oct. 30 at the earliest. Rookie Leon Washington has performed surprisingly well for an undrafted player out of Florida State; he has 4.3 yards per carry and is a definite upgrade over Kevan Barlow (2.8 yards per carry) at that position. But the Jets offensive line has not done a very good job of creating running lanes this year.