Lions WR Burleson breaks forearm in car accident
Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson broke his arm in two places in a single-car accident early Tuesday.
The team confirmed the accident in a statement issued at 9:15 a.m. ET. According to the Detroit Free Press, Burleson wrecked his vehicle when he became distracted by a pizza falling off of his passenger seat.
"Nate Burleson was involved in a one-car accident overnight," the statement read. Burleson suffered a broken arm and will undergo surgery today. Police confirm there was no alcohol involved."
Burleson was returning to his home after watching Monday Night Football with teammates and suffered no other injuries.
Coach Jim Schwartz said Burleson broke both bones in his forearm. His surgery, scheduled for Wednesday, will be performed by the same surgeon who operated on Burleson's broken leg in 2012.
"We want to make sure he gets it fixed and fixed well," Schwartz said.
The Lions will not immediately make a decision on Burleson's roster status. Schwartz didn't rule out short-term injured reserve as an option.
Burleson caught six passes for 116 yards, including 47- and 41-yarders that set up field goals, in the Lions' first ever win at Washington on Sunday. It was Burleson's most productive day since 2007. When he touched base with Schwartz on Tuesday, the coach said Burleson's spirits were "understandably low."
Detroit lacks veteran productivity opposite Calvin Johnson without Burleson.
The Lions on Monday held a free-agent workout that included three wide receivers:
Second-year wide receiver Ryan Broyles is the top candidate to step into the starting lineup in the 32-year-old Burleson's place. Burleson's NFL career includes myriad injuries, including a torn ACL in 2011 and a broken leg last October.
