DETROIT (AP) - The Detroit Lions kept teammate Jerome Harrison in their thoughts Sunday after the running back left the team because of a brain tumor.
Cornerback Chris Houston confirmed after Detroit’s 23-16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons that Harrison has had surgery for a brain tumor.
Houston says he hopes to visit his teammate once he’s able to have more guests, and linebacker DeAndre Levy was hoping to find out more about how Harrison was doing.
“Guys want to rally behind,” Levy said. “When you’re out on the field, you’ve got to be able to control your emotions, regardless of what it is, whether it’s that or something else.”
Harrison was put on the reserve/non-football illness list Friday. The team had tried to trade him to Philadelphia earlier in the week, but the deal was voided.
Coach Jim Schwartz has remained cautious when talking about Harrison, not saying much about the player’s condition.
“I appreciate everybody’s concern, but there’s only so much we can say,” Schwartz said after Sunday’s game.
The Lions were trying to trade Harrison for fellow running back Ronnie Brown while Jahvid Best was recovering from a concussion.
Best, Detroit’s leading rusher, didn’t play Sunday, leaving Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams to split carries. Morris ran for 50 yards on nine attempts, and Williams ran for 44 on nine.
When Harrison went on the injured list, Detroit signed running back Eldra Buckley.
Buckley didn’t have a carry Sunday.
“We’re always going to miss Jahvid, but I think (Morris and Williams) did a good job carrying the load,” offensive lineman Rob Sims said. “I’m sure we can go back and look at some times where we can block a little bit better for an extra inch or they hit the hole a certain way and even get more yards. I think those guys are doing well.”
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