National Football League

Notes: Lions exploring options at kicker; Nevin Lawson suffers season-ending injury

Published Sep. 15, 2014 3:17 p.m. ET

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ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Like Nate Freese, Jason Hanson didn't get off to the greatest start as a kicker in the NFL.

Hanson was a second-round draft pick in 1992 and joined a team that had come one victory from going to the Super Bowl the previous year.

Hanson, however, made only three of six field-goal attempts in his first three regular-season games.

Freese has already missed three of his five opportunities in the first two weeks. He was good from 27 and 28 yards in the opening game but missed from 43 yards.

In Sunday's 24-7 loss at Carolina, Freese missed twice from 49 yards.

The question now is whether the Lions will show patience with their seventh-round draft pick, or will they try to replace the rookie with a veteran free agent?

"We're still discussing, talking, looking at different options," coach Jim Caldwell said Monday. "I still believe this young man is going to be a fine kicker in this league. I don't think there's any question about that.

"We'll see how it goes here. I still believe. You look at him, he had three kicks of 50 yards plus in the preseason (two from 53 yards and one from 55). So you know he can get it out there.

"Sometimes guys have a bad day, but we'll look at that."

If the Lions pursue a veteran, one possibility is former Michigan kicker Jay Feely, 38, who was released late in the preseason by the Arizona Cardinals. Feely made 30-of-36 attempts last year for the Cardinals, including 3-of-5 from 50-plus yards.

The Lions aren't used to this type of uncertainty from their kicker. They were blessed by Hanson's consistency, once he got past his early struggles, during a 21-year career.

Hanson played his final season in 2012 before retiring after the Lions offered him only the minimum salary for a player of his experience. They went with another veteran last season, David Akers, but didn't re-sign him after Akers made 19 of his 24 field-goal attempts.

The team was hoping Freese, who didn't miss a field goal during his senior year at Boston College, would be the long-term answer.

He still might be just that, but the Lions are in a win-now mode and can't afford many misses from their kicker in a league where so many games are decided by such narrow margins.

ANOTHER SEASON-ENDER

Rookie cornerback Nevin Lawson, a fourth-round draft pick, is expected to miss the remainder of the season following foot surgery Sunday for dislocated toes.

Lawson, injured on a special-teams play in the third quarter, underwent the surgery in Charlotte, N.C. He's scheduled to return to Detroit in the next day or two.

"The fortunate thing was the best foot and ankle specialist in this part of the world was there at the game, works for the Panthers (Dr. Robert Anderson)," Caldwell said. "He (Anderson) had a chance to look at him and also help set the protocol for him. He was able to take him right away to the hospital. They got the surgery done.

"That particular surgery he went through, from what I understand, it's extremely important if you can get it early. So many different things can happen. Compartment syndrome (a serious condition in which pressures builds up and damages tissue) can set in. They were able to avoid that."

Caldwell, who talked to Lawson by phone Monday morning, shared a story that he was told about when Lawson found out the importance of undergoing surgery as soon as possible under the circumstances.

"He said, 'Well, let's get it going. Let's get it done right now,'" Caldwell said. "That's his attitude. He figures the quicker he could get it done, the quicker the healing process will take place.

"Valiant young man. He came through, from what they tell me, a successful surgery. He's anxious to get back.

"How long it's going to be, I'm not certain as of yet. I would not anticipate that he will be back this year, but hopefully he'll heal quickly."

Lawson is the third Lions player to suffer a season-ending injury in the first two weeks, joining cornerback Bill Bentley (knee) and offensive tackle Corey Hilliard (foot).

LAWSON'S REPLACEMENT

The Lions could promote undrafted rookie Mohammed Seisay (Nebraska) from the practice squad to take Lawson's spot on the 53-man roster, or they might turn to a free agent with more experience.

"We're looking at both options," Caldwell said.

Seisay was in contention to be elevated last week after Bentley went down in the opening game. The Lions opted at that time for safety Nate Ness, another undrafted rookie from the practice squad, but Caldwell likes Seisay's potential.

"He's got length because he's a guy that's got good size," Caldwell said of Seisay, who is 6-foot-2, 206 pounds. "He's got speed. He can run. And he's got a good nose for the ball. Obviously, he's youthful, has not had an opportunity to play as of yet, but I do think you'll see he'll make good progress. He's a very good candidate to come in and give us some quick help."

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