Jermaine Kearse suffered a devastating injury in the Lions’ preseason opener.
The 29-year-old wide receiver broke his leg early in the first quarter against the Patriots, according to a report from NFL Network, which cites unidentified league sources. He also injured his ankle, the report says.
#Lions WR Jermaine Kearse, who was carted off earlier, suffered a broken leg and also associated injuries to his ankle, source said. In what was supposed to be a bounce-back year, it’s a brutal injury instead.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 9, 2019
The injury occurred while Kearse was blocking during a run play less than three minutes into the game. He stayed down on the field, was examined by trainers and was then carted off with an air cast around his leg, according to multiple reports.
Jermaine Kearse is leaving the field in a cart less than three minutes into the Lions preseason. His leg is in a cast.
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) August 8, 2019
Kearse is in his first season with the Lions after he inked a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the team in June. He was with the Jets in 2018, catching 37 passes for 371 yards and a touchdown.
Kearse spent his first five NFL seasons with the Seahawks before he joined New York in 2017.
Kearse has hauled in 17 touchdown catches over his seven-year career.