Several Lions players were injured in their game against the New Orleans Saints, and the circumstances have at least a couple of them describing the timing of their bye week as a blessing.
Wide receiver Golden Tate suffered a shoulder injury in Week 6, while safety Glover Quin left that game with a concussion. Both of them say these injuries aren't something they've ever had to deal with before.
"It was scary. I'm going to just be honest with you. It was scary, you know. I've been playing football for a long time and I've never had a play like that one, but it was just an unfortunate situation because I've had many plays like that it just never had that result. But it happens. It's just a part of the game. It's a risk we take every time we go out there to play," said Quin.
Tate -- who has a 54 game start streak -- has never dealt with a shoulder injury before, so he admits he's in unchartered territory with the healing process.
"I'm still trying to get my strength back, and my mobility and stability. I kind of have the attitude that I'm going to make it work. No pain, no gain," said Tate.
Tate could be seen walking about with his arm in a sling, and was initially expected to miss at least one game. Both he and Quin credit the extra time off for the increased likelihood they'll play against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday night.
"Going into the season, you look at the bye week and I'm like 'Jeez, it's so early, and it's going to make the tail end of the season so long', but after that game against the Saints I'm like 'Thank you, God'. We needed that one. A chance to reset, let our bodies heal. I think it came at a perfect time," Tate said.
"God knows what he's doing," Quin said in agreement. "He knows. What would have happened if we would have had a game on Sunday? I don't know. Who would have been available to play? I don't know. If I would have been able to play...I don't know. But God knows, and he let us not have a game that Sunday so that we could get injured and have time to heal and hopefully be able to play the next week."
Quin participated fully in Thursday's practice while Tate was limited.
The Lions host the Steelers for Sunday Night Football at Ford Field this Sunday.
