It wasn’t the season that Detroit Lions guard T.J. Lang envisioned.
He finished the year on the injured reserve list after suffering yet another concussion, an injury he’s suffered multiple times in his career. He started six games at right guard, missing three games due to head, back, and neck injuries, before being placed on injured reserve on November 14.
http://gty.im/1054749026
His health is a concern and will be a factor on whether or not he decides to continue his career. But if he’s able to continue, he wants it to be in the Honolulu blue.
“As far as health goes, I think I’m good,” Lang said.. “I’ve been working out, doing everything I can off to the side. I don’t think anybody wants to walk away from the game right after the season. That obviously takes some time to ponder and think about and talk about.”
Will a decision on his future be made in the near future? Not likely, he says.
“I’m not going to make a decision one way or the other any time soon. I had a lot of time off. I’ve been trying to keep myself busy around here helping out in different ways with the guys….I think everybody wants to have a chance to go out on their own terms, and I’m no different.”
Should Lang be healthy enough to play in 2019, it is a contract year. Signed from divisional rival Green Bay two years ago, Lang has one year remaining on his deal. Of course, Lang has connections to metro-Detroit, hailing from Royal Oak and having played college football at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti and high school football at Birmingham Brother Rice.
Naturally, he understands the fans frustration with the team. But Lang has a message for the fans who are sticking by the team – don’t give up on us.
“The big picture is that everybody’s in this together,” he said. “We know our fans are diehards. Just look at the games we play on the road. You see the blue and silver. It’s unbelievable the support we have. I’ve got kind of a different perspective than a lot of the guys in this locker room. I was a fan of this team for a long time growing up. I lived here, and I’ll be here the rest of my life.
“I get it (fan frustration). I understand it. At the end of the day, this is a city that deserves a winning football team. We want to give it to them. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen this year.
“It comes down to, don’t give up on us.”
